Evening star., 1944-03-20
Court Weighs
Plan for Joan
To See Mother
Seeks Guarantee
Child Won't Be
Removed From D. 6.

II Joan Manners wants to see her
11-year-old daughter, Joan Langan,
she will have to do so with an IRON
clad guarantee that she will not re-
move the child from the District.
Justice T. Alan Goldsborough indi-
Gated today.
The court delayed signing the
formal order granting custody of
little Joan to her father, John
Langan, to permit Miss Manners
attorneys to come forward with some
suggestion for controlling the visits.
Justice Goldsborough gave Walter
Green and JEFF Lichtenberg, who
represent the former actress, until
10 am. Wednesday, to reach an
agreement with Charles Walker, at
torney for Mr.. Langan
1t is possible that the mother
will be permitted to be with her
daughter only when little Joan is
in the custody of United States
marshal. Mr.. Green suggested
such course and Justice Colds
borough said this plan had occurred
to him.
Justice Goldsborough fatty re-
fused to sign an order submitted by
Mr.. Lichtenberg which would have
given the mother the right to have
the girl with her at reasonable
times"
Foresees Removal
The court is supposed to have
some knowledge of human expert
ence and human emotions" Justice
Goldsborough declared, "and the
court thinks it is we'll within the
bounds of possibility and even
probability that If the petitioner
miss Manners) had the child, she
would carry her into Maryland. A
court order awarding custody to
Miss Manners is still valid in that
State.
Justice Goldsborough added that
ANY individual with reasonable in
telligence and reasonable expert
ence" realizes that Miss Manners
might take the child into Maryland
If she were given the opportunity.
He pointed out that he was
anxious to Cooperate in providing
an opportunity for the mother to
see the little girl 'if and when it
can be shown that everything will
be done to keep the child here"
THE very grave question is," the
jurist said, "how much does the Pc
titioner desire to see the child and
how much does she desire merely to
carry her point? The court was
bound to see that that question
permeated this case from its incep-
! ton to its conclusion"
Bond Offer Rejected.
I Justice Goldsborough rejected an
offer by Miss Manners attorneys
to post reasonable" bond to in
tsure that the child is kept in the
District during the time she is with
her mother.
i "A bond would not necessarily
4 deter the removal Of the child" the
|fcourt pointed out.
Justice Goldsborough said he was
1still being guided by what he be-
lieved to be the best interests of
little Joan. He said he had consid-
cred the matter of visits carefully
before handing down his opinion
but that he knew of mo way to CO.
operate with the petitioner" in this
matter. He explained he did not in
tend to sign anything that would
Illustrate the order of this court"
Miss Manners was in the court
room today but remained in the
spectators section, except for brief,
whispered conference with MI. Lich-
tenberg. In the corridors Mr.. Lich-
tenberg refused to permit her to talk
to newspapermen, although she sug-
gested she be permitted to give out
la statement. Neither Mr.. Langan
nor little Joan was present.