Dianetics leader found in Wichita

Daily News, Los Angeles/April 15, 1951

Dianetics founder L. Ron Hubbard, missing target of a sensational divorce suit, allegedly has been found "hiding" in Wichita, Kan., by Arthur W. Wermuth, the legendary one-man army of Bataan.

Discovery of the 40-year-old mental-movement mogul was claimed in a petition by his estranged wife, Sara Northrup Hubbard, 25, asking that her missing mate's California assets be put in receivership.

Superior Judge Mildred L. Lillie granted the petition, which was prepared by the wife's attorney, Caryl Warner, thus tying up the local headquarters of the Dianetics foundation at 2600 South Hoover street and Hubbard's bank account. Not affected however, was the foundation's operations at its present site, 715 Parkview Street.

Judge Lillie made it clear she signed the petition on the strength of the wife's contentions the foundation was solely owned and controlled by Hubbard and was in fact his "alter ego."

Last April 24th Mrs. Hubbard filed her divorce suit, charging her husband had fled the city with the couple's daughter, Alexis, 14 months, after first snatching her, the wife, from her apartment and taking her on a frantic ride to Arizona under threats he would kill her.

The wife said medical advisers have concluded Hubbard is "hopelessly insane."

Mrs. Hubbard said two weeks later she received a letter from the Dianetics king saying he had their child with him in Cuba.

In the receivership petition the wife said Wermuth, who now is a marshal in the Wichita area, found that Hubbard "was hiding" in the Kansas City, "but that he probably would leave town upon being detected."

The wife also included in her petition a letter she said was written to her last May 2nd by Hubbard's previous wife, Margaret Grubb Hubbard, of Bremerton, Washington.

The letter said:

"If I can help in any way, I'd like to. You must get Alexis in your custody. Ron is not normal. I had hopes that you could straighten him out.

"Your charges probably sound fantastic to the average person, but I've been through it-the beatings, threats on my life, all the sadistic traits which you charge, 12 years of it . . ."

Hubbard or his attorney must show cause before Judge Lillie next week why the receivership, now temporary, should not be made permanent.

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