Evening star., 1949-03-25
lafta-Lawrence
Weighs Moves
In Wife'sSuit
Navy Captain PIons
To Make Answer
At Proper Time

latta-LaWrence today were con-
sidering the next move in the
District Court maintenance action
brought Tuesday by the Navy off,
GERS wife.
The captain said yesterday his
reply to the allegations made by
Mrs. Eilene Diana Latta-Law-
renee, which include one that
Representative Edith Nourse Rog-
ers figured in their marital diff
culties, would be made Ito the
court at the proper time"
Attorney Joseph Leo McGroary.
who with Attorney George Quinn
represents Capt. Latta-Lawrence,
said he did not know when an
answer would be filed. since he
received a copy of the suit only
yesterday.
Mrs. Rogers Sees Lawyer.
Mrs. Rogers has seen her lawyer
In connection with Mrs. Latta
Lawrence's charges, the Associated
Press quoted her as saying today
on arrival in Boston. She told
newsmen there the allegations con-
corning her in the suit were "ab-
surd and outrageous"
Beyond saying the allegations
were IAN unprincipled attack upon
me" and that there are lots of
things that can be DONE" she de-
clined to comment further.
She also would not identify her
Attorney. other than to say he was
in Lowell She had a box of cut
flowers she had brought from
Washington for paraplegic
veterans ceremony as she started
for Needham with the first Fed
eral check for housing at the prof.
ect there.
Mrs. Rogers said she had much
to do in Massachusetts, and would
not return to Washington until
Sunday.
Mrs. Rogers Statement.
Last night, Mrs. Rogers, on
Capitol Hill, issued the following
statement:
II have nothing further to add
to my previous statement that the
allegations relating to me made in
the suit by Mrs. Lawrence against
Capt. Lawrence are ridiculous and
an unjustified outrage upon me. -
Blond Mrs. Latta-Lawrence. who
is staying at the Roosevelt Hotel,
asserted in the suit that the tall,
dark officer began telling her al
most Immediately after their mar
riage last April that his future
prospects would be ruined if they
resided together in Washingtous
The reason, according to the
suit, was, given by Capt. Latta-
Lawrence as being that the mar
riage was cause of great misery
and suffering to 67-year-old Mrs
Rogers Of Massachusetts,.
In an interview yesterday, Capt
Latta-Lawrence said he had
known Mrs. Rogers "all my life"
and that he had assisted her in
"tax matters and certain political
activities"
Won't Discuss Charges.
But he refused to discuss his
wife's e.arges, which both he and
Mrs. Rogers already had branded
as fantastic
Il am glad to say that I have
known Mrs. Rogers all my life. -
he declared. Il knew her huS-
band. and I know her whole
family. and I think them some of
the most outstanding citizens of
this country"
With reference to some reports
that there had been difficulty in
serving him with the papers in
the proceedings, Capt. Latta-
Lawrence said:
Il returned from feet maneu-
vers aboard the battleship Missouri
yesterday morning about 10 o'clock
and it was then that I was first
informed that the action had been
filed.
Il returned to the city as soon
as possible. and this morning I
advised my attorneys to accept
service of the papers in the case.
Since Mrs. Latta-Lawrence
has seen fit to initiate these pro-
ceedings in the court, believe
that my reply and my position
should be made to the court at
the proper time. This is legal
proceeding and nothing more.
"No Further Comment"
Il, therefore, have no further
comment to make on the proceed
ing"
Capt. Latta-Lawrence, At, is 6
feet tall, with blue eyes and dark
brown hair. slightly graying
around the temples.
He was born in Toledo, Ohio,
and his father was active in Re-
publican politics in that State,
although he never held political
Office.
His father died when he was 8,
and Capt. Latta-Lawrence grew
up in Richmond. Ind. where he
attended high school. Later, he
went to the University of Mich
igan, where he majored in eco
nomics. His first Job was with the
First National Bank in Detroit,
Mich.
Capt. Latta-Lawrence was per.
suaded to come to Washington by
former Representative Franklin
Fort Of New Jersey, when tht
latter was beginning to set up the
Federal Home Loan Bank System
Tax COnsultant in Boston.
Following this, he attended
Harvard University to study eco.
nomics and law. Then he became
q tax consultant in Boston.
It was in Boston that he first
met Mrs. Rogers.
Il first did tax work for Mrs
Rogers and then later assisted hel
l.