Evening star., 1944-03-11
Joan Manners Told
To Prove Paternity
OF 10-Year-0Id Girl

Attorneys for Joan Manners to-
day were under instructions to pro-
duce proof of the existence of John
Manners, who, the former British
movie actress charges, is the real
father of her 10-year -old daughter
Joan, over whose custody she is
fighting with her former husband,
John Langan.
Justice T. Alan Goldsborough,
who is hearing the case in District
Court, adjourned the hearing until
l:45 pm. Wednesday at the con-
clusion of yesterdays session.
"T'he court is Of the opinion" he
said, that of paramount interest is
the question of John Manners. The
petitioner Miss Manners) should
be given adequate time to produce
such evidence as is possible, either
John Manners personally or any,
thing else that may be pertinent"
Justice Goldsborough also directed
Mr.. Langan's counsel to seek such
evidence as is available to support
Mr.. Langan's charge that his former
wife signed a quitclaim against Neil
Hamilton, movie star of 10 years ago,
in payment Of $500 as settlement
for an alleged seduction by the actor.
Mr.. Langan said a Los Angeles at
torney by the name of Houlihan Is in
possession of the paper.
Wants Proof of Marriage.
Justice Goldsborough conceded it
may be diticult to obtain such proof
ipasmuch as Mr.. Houlihan need not
reveal confidential matters between
himself and a client.
The court also Is seeking addition
al proof that Mr.. Langan and Miss
Manners were actually married in
1898. Miss Manners yesterday said
she discovered, while she was pre-
pairing her divorce appeal not long
after the alleged marriage, that no
records existed in the church in
Glendale, Calf, where the ceremony
was performed. She also stated no
marriage license had been obtained
Earlier Justice Goldsborough had
pointed out that under California
law the parties were married if
they went through a ceremony with
clergyman even if no documents
existed to substantiate the marriage
providing they had previously lived
together as man and wife, Miss
Manners, however, reiterated her
previous denial that she and Mr.
Langan had ever had marital rela-
tions.
Finds Ice Man Listed.
Charles Walker, attorney for Mr.
Langan, told Miss Manners that he
had found John c. Manners listed
in California directory, but that
he was listed as being an ice man
Gould he have been an ice man?'
he asked
Il don't know" Miss Manners re.
piled, but that isn't the same man
The name of the man I knew was
John l.. Manners"
Mr.. Walker also asked the former
actress whether she had ever asked
John Manners to pay for the sup
port of the child she claims is his
Miss Manners attorneys objected tc
the question but were overruled.
Mr.. Walker" Miss Manners then
replied, i've never asked any one
at any time to support my daugh-
ter"
Mr.. Walker pointed to stipula-
tions in California court order
which provided that Mr. Langan
pay specified sums for the support.
Miss Manners said the order was
drawn by her attorney without her
approval and that she subsequently
dismissed the lawyer.
Miss Manners occupied the entire
day on the stand as a rebuttal wit
ness in her own behalf to refute
statements made by Mr.. Langan.
She denied ever having carried on
an affair with Mr. Hamilton, as
arged by her former husband. She
; r she met MI. Hamilton around
I studio and that once, when she
eturning from hike with two
cl l1ren in her care she was given
a lde INTO Hollywood by the actor.
little Joan, who has been waiting
for two weeks to tell her story, was
allowed to leave the courthouse when
attorneys for both sides agreed they
would be unable to put her on the
stand yesterday.