Evening star., 1949-05-08
Latta Lawrence SAYS
Wife Sought 10 Hold
Him in Public RidieuIe

Navy Capt. Harold A. Latta
Lawrence filed papers in District
Court yesterday charging that the
separate maintenance suit brought
by his wife last March was de-
signed to hold him up TO con-
tempt and public ridicule" and
deprive him of his livelihood.
Asking the court to deny her
petition for temporary mainte-
nance pending outcome of the
suit, Capt. Latta Lawrence de-
clared the action was not filed in
good faith.
An AFFIDAVIT of 1t. Comdr. Ernest
Vollberg, now stationed in London,
also was filed In behalf of Capt
Latta Lawrence. Comdr. Vollberg
stated that, at the request of Capt
Latta Lawrence, he had listened
to a telephone conversation and
heard Mrs. Eilene Diana Latta
Lawrence say:
II do not want or need any of
your-money. I am going to ruinI
you. I am going to have yod
kicked out of the Navy"
Mrs. Rogers Mentioned.
When Mrs. Latta Lawrence filed
suit last March she asserted her
husband had been in "close and
intimate" association with Repre-
sentative Edith Nourse Rogers,
Republican, of Massachusetts.
Mrs. Rogers described the asser-
ton as absurd and outrageous.
In his affidavit yesterday. Capt
Latta Lawrence asked the court
TO strike out allegations relating
to Mrs. Rogers as being scandal
Gus, redundant, impertinent and
immaterial."
He stated he had known Mrs.
Rogers for many years and had
been employed by her at various
times. Their relationship always
has been on the highest plane. he
said. Mrs. Rogers never advised
him against marrying or in any
way caused the marital difficulties
and separation of the Latta Law
TenceS, ne ADDED.
Wife introduced as Uncle.
His affidavit also declared that
his wife introduced DR.. Frank
Hammer, now of Hollywood. Calf.
sS her uncle. 1t charged that
this and further references to DR..
Hammer as an uncle were
smoke screen" to cover UP their
living together. 1t noted that she
since has admitted in papers filed
at court that DR.. Hammer is no
kin.
Capt. Latta Lawrence also con-
tended that Mrs. Latta Lawrence
told him that money to build
home in California had come from
O married man other than DR..
Hammer. DR.. Hammer now lives
In the Hollywood home. Mrs. Latta
Lawrence said recently. She said
the home had been built for her
by DR.. Hammer and the late Mrs.
Hammer and that DIR. Hammer
has been contributing to her sup
port.
Cites Conflict i'm Birth Dates.
Capt. Latta Lawrence also
charged in his affidavit that his
wife, in filing an application for
their marriage In April, 1948, gave
her birthdate as 1912 and pointed
out that she recently had said,
under oath, that she was born in
1907.
He further accused her of hav-
ing stated she had not been
previously married and said she
had been married in 1925 and dt-
vorced some years later. He
charged she also had falsified her
name and birthplace.
The captain also charged that
his wife's use of liquor became a |
constant source of friction while
they lived in the Shoreham Hotel
and caused frequent quarrels.
Mrs. Latta Lawrence now lives
in the Roosevelt Hotel. In asking
the court to deny temporary main
tenance. Capt. Latta Lawrence
contended that her financial re-
sources are sufficient to make tenn
porary maintenance "unwar-