Evening star., 1936-03-15
FIGHT FOR GLORIA
IS RESUMED HERE
"Evidence of immortality"
Charged 10 Mother in
Supreme Court.

BACKGROUND
Gloria Vanderbilt, 12-year-old
hetress, tDds center of IOtdely pub
licized court proceedings during 1S
months as Mrs. Gertrude Wander
bilt Whitney, aunt OF the child,
successfully sought custody rather
than Leave her to care Of toidotDed
mother, Mrs. Gloria Morgan Van
derbilt.
Latter, strikingly beautiful and
ftoin sister OF equally attractive
Lady FurneSs, tUds accused of i'm
morality and OF being unqualified
to bring up daughter. Heard before
New York court, case attracted
iDorId-pide interest because OF So
cial standing OF principals and
nature of allegations and testimony.
Except for stated periods, little
Gloria Dds placed by court in Gus
tody OF Mrs. Whitney.
BY the Associated Press.
The sometimes sensational legal
battle over custody of the l2-year-old
heiresS, Gloria Vanderbilt, was re-
sumed in Supreme Court yesterday
with an accusation that evidence of
immortality" showed her mother to be
an unfit person to have charge Of the
child
The assertion was made in brief
presented by Mrs. Gertrude Vanderbilt
Whitney, wealthy aunt Of the child
She opposed the effort of Gloria's
mother, Mrs. Gloria Morgan Wander
bilt. to have the tribunal review a
decision of New York courts award
ing principal custody of the child to
Mrs. Whitney.
Gloria'S mother was permitted tc
have her two days a week, on
Christmas day and during july.
Ruling Due March 30.
Whether the Supreme Court will
pass on the protracted dispute prob
ably will be announced on March 80
II it declines, the arrangement ap-
proved by New York courts will remain
in effect.
The brief charged the mother hao
devoted herself to the pleasures oi
a gay continental life abroad" spend
ing chiefly" on herself and partially
on Prince Hohenloe" a $4S, ,000-a-
year allowance for support of the
child.
Mrs. Whitney's brief added:
The eviderce of immortality of the
mother, of her association with a GER
tain type Of woman, of her predilec-
ton for obscene literature, or hel
unconventional friendship for anc
intimacy with Prince Hohenlohe. oi
her relations with A. C. BlumenthaI
a married man; of her fondness tol
the gaiety of night life, are merely
indication of the character which has
permitted her so to neglect her chile
and force upon her a life which ha;
been condemned by every court which
has considered the facts of this case.
Public Excluded From Trial.
There was no further reference tc
this statement in the 2l-page docu-
ment. During the two-month hear
ing Of the case before the New York
Supreme Court the testimony became
so spicy at times that the public wss
excluded.
The courts recognized that the Pc
titioner CMrs. Vanderbilt), the sole
heir to the child's large fortune, had
an interest in the child which was
mercenary only and which was mimi
cal to the child's health and welfare, ri
Mrs. Whitney's brief said.
At one time in 1884, it said, Gloria
became 'hysterical with grief and
fear" when her mother tried to keep
her from returning to her aunt.
Mrs. Vanderbilt's mother and father
were said to have protested against
Neglect" of Gloria. The child was
described as "on the brink of a COM
plete collapse" when placed in Mrs
Whitney's custody.
Voluntarily Left Child.
In June. 1882, forced against her
SAL to keep her daughter in New
York, petitioner voluntarily left her
with Mrs. Whitney and went back to
Europe and her pleasures" the brief
said
Recovery of the child was sought
in September, 1884. Mrs. Whitney
said she resisted it on the ground
''the child's welfare and safety. If
not her very existence, required that
she be protected from the parental
neglect and indifference of the petit
TONER"
Mrs. Whitney said Gloria inherited
from her grandfather, Cornelius VAN
derbilt, an estate of 81, goo, 900 and be-
tween $750,00O and 100000 from her
grandmother, Alice G. Vanderbilt.
The child's father, Reginald G. VAN
derbilt, died in 1925.