Evening star., 1944-02-29
Longon
Continued From First Page.)


response to the writ issued yesterday
by Justice Goldsborough. Mr.. Lam
gan failed to appear yesterday as
scheduled, because the first habeAs
corpus writ. obtained by Miss Man.
ners from Justice Matthew F. Nc
Guire on Saturday, was served
illegally on Sunday.
Meanwhile, a third party entered
the case today, with the filing of
next best friend" suit by Mrs. Claire
M. Dawes, the girls paternal grand
mother, who came from her home in
Boston to take part in the proceed
ing. The new action was filed by
Attorney Charles E. Ford, who i'm
mediately asked Justice Colds
borough for temporary restraining
order to prohibit both parents from
removing the child from the courts
jurisdiction and which would make
the girl temporary ward of the
court.
Justice Goldsborough reserved
consideration of the petition for
restraining order until after dispo-
sition of the habeas corpus proceed
ings. He also refused to permit Mr..
Ford to enter the habeas corpus
hearing as friend of the court"
and later barred him from his
chambers after Miss Manners OBJ
jected to the public session.
Full Investigation Sought.
Mrs Dawes seeks a full investiga-
ton in the name of the child, with,
the decision of the District Court
based solely on the child's best
interests and welfare.
Arnold's Ruling Cited.
Shortly after today's hearing
opened, Mr.. Walker pointed to a de-
cision by Justice Thurman Arnold
of the United States Court of Ap-
peals holding that the childs best
interests in custody case are para
mount without regard for anything
any other court may have decided"
For once in his life, he has agreed
with me" commented Justice Colds
borough, referring to Justice Arnold.
Miss Manners was the first wit
ness called by her attorneys after
the hearing opened. She described
the demeanor of little Joan during
the 10 hours she had her in custody
after the Montgomery County Md
Circuit Court had ruled in her favor
late Thursday night and before Mr..
Langan removed the girl from
downtown hotel Friday morning.
Termed "PetuIant."
Other than being somewhat pet
ulant," Miss Manners said, the girl
did not display the same antipathy
toward her as was apparent in the
Maryland court. She said she be-
lieved Joan's demonstration of af-
lection for Mr.. Langan in the Rock
vile Court was not an expression
of sincere grief at leaving him, but
was "hysterical and dramatic"
Miss Manners said she opened a
private school in Los Angeles about
year ago so she could raise money
to find Joan, who had been taken
from California by the father in
1941, and because she wanted to
escape being labeled an "ex-movie
extra"
After ALL" she said, "Mr. Langan
was also soda jerker once, but they
always refer to him as Hollywood
director"
Her profit from operating the
school, she testified, averages about
$500 month.
Kidnapping Warrant Asked.
Meanwhile, the Municipal Court
of Appeals had before it a petit
ton for a writ of mandamuS to
compel Judge Thomas D. Quinn of
the Municipal Court to issue a war
rant charging Mr.. Langan with kid
naping. The warrant, sought by
Miss Manners, previously had been
refused by Judge Quinn and United
States Attorney Edward M. Curran..
In Montgomery County former
States Attorney Ben G. Wilkinson
was investigating a complaint filed
by Miss Manners late yesterday, ac-
cuSing Mr.. Langan of perjury before
the Circuit Court in Rockville dur
ing the custody hearing there last
week. Mr.. Wilkinson said he con-
ferred with Miss Manners last night
and that if he finds basis for the
charge, perjury warrant will be Is
sued. Mr.. Langan, who has re-
mained in the District since he took
Jean from her mother last Friday
morning, is already under a con-
tempt citation issued by the Mary
land court.
States Attorney Joseph B. Simp-
son of Montgomery County was
barred from investigating the per-
jury complaint, inasmuch as he rep
resented Mr.. Langan in his fight to-
retain custody of the child before
the Rockville tribunal.