Evening star., 1945-06-08
Mrs. langford Says
She Spent 100000
On Singer r'sCareer
By the Associated Press,

NEW YORK. June ga baroness
and an Indian chief today joined
the stranger than fiction array of
characters figuring in the investiga-
ton of Albert E. Langford's death
while the District Attorneys ofice
revealed that the art patroness wife
of the slain man spent more than
500, ,000-instead of $4,000 as first
reported-on Reed Lawton, a singer
Mr.. Langford, So, textile execu-
tive. was shot to death Monday
night in the vestibule of his Park
avenue apartment after two men,
who asked to see his wife, failed to
gain admittance.-
Funeral services for Mr.. Langford
were expected to be held today. His
widow, asked by reporters yester-
day if she planned to attend, said:
"Oh, good God, no."
LaWton, a dapper 30-year- man
with exaggerated sideburns, ap-
peared voluntarily last night for
questioning.
Spent 100000.
The district attorneys Office said
Mrs. Marion Langford believed she
had spent about 100000 to further
Lawton's career. The night-club-
bing widow told the district attorney
she spent great part of the money
In night clubs in which Lawton sang.
O WI t0lH ho
paid most Of the money given di-
rectly to him by Mrs. Langford He
said he received a percentage of the
gross business done by clubs with
which he was associated.
Police still were scrutinizing the
500 names contained in four memo
randum books-three of which listed
Mrs. Langfords expenses.
The district attorneys office said
1t would like to talk to baroness
and an Indian called Chief Redwing.
Promoted by Baroness.
Lawton claimed the marriage of
the Langfords in September, 1912,
was promoted by a baroness who
sought a wealthy wife for the slain
man. An Indian purportedly was
the baroness aide.
A friend of the Langfords scoffed
at this report and said the couple
met 10 years ago while their former
mates still were living This friend
said the Langfords met "at party
given by a mutual friend. Louis
Wicher, at his estate on the shore OF
Maryland
Lawton said he learned of the
purported scheme when the baron
ess, who he added later was deport-
ed, came to him and protested that
Mr.. Langford had reneged on a
promise to pay $25 1000 for her serv-
ices in promoting the match.
He related. he later told Mrs.
Langford the story and said she
Laughed and said it was just an at
tempt to shake her down for some
cash"
Friend Of Late Husband
Police said yesterday Mrs. Lang
ford was asked why she had married
Mr. Langford and that she replied:
He was friend of my late hus-
bard and he was nice easy man to
get along with" Mrs. Langford pre-
viously was married to Robert
Grimes. ".sr p,
While Lawtons name was the only
one in the memorandum books made
public, police said they also found
the name of popular, handsome
New York night club figure re-
Cured frequently and that entries
showed he received "st least 5000"
Mr.. Langford was shot to death
Monday night in the foyer of his
apartment in the Hotel Marguery
by one of two men who had asked
to speak to Mrs. Langford, police
said.
Marriage Kept Secret.
It was disclosed that Mrs Lang
ford had concealed from her aged
father the fact that she married
Mr. Langford. The couple managed
to keep the secret even though her
father, Joseph Mayer. utilities ex-
ecutive, lived On the 18th floor of
the Hotel Marguery while the Lang
fords lived on the 7th.
Mr.. Mayer mad been paying MS
daughter about $50,000 a year and
was said to be afraid some one would
marry her for her money.
Police said they had questioned
a chauffeur formerly employed by
Mrs. Langford who disclosed that
he had driven Lawton and Mrs.
Langford to Canada late in 1943
and that he had taken Mrs. Lang
ford and other men on still other
extended trips,
Mrs. Langford explained, police
said, that the Canadian trip was