Douglas daily dispatch., 1927-08-23

not enricheth him but makes me poor
indeed"
Mrs. Chaplin came into the court
| ten minutes before Judge Guerin'S gavel
fell. With her was her mother, Mrs.
Lillian Spicer, who took short turn
on the witness stand as corrobora-
tive witness, and two girl frienlS.
| The court had before him pre-
pared statement concerning the ma
ture of testimony he proposed to ad-
nit in evidence in case the trial took
turn toward the sensational.
The reading occupied nearly ten
minutes curing which considerable
comment was heard among attorneys
about the unusual situation created by
, the court issuing a temporary ruling
on matters which had not yet come
before him.
When he had concluded, McMurray
again was recognized and announced
the settlement terms had been agreed
upon and waited only the approval of
the court Then, turning to where the
plaintiff wife sat, he motioned her to
! the witness stand.
I Mrs. Chaplin appeared perfectly at
ease. She answered the rapid-fire
questions in clear voice which car
ried well over the crowded spectator
section McMurray, however, facing
the witness chair from where he sat
at the head of the counsel table, could
scarcely be heard ten feet away.
The witness was no disappointment
to those who succeeded in gaining
entrance She was smartly attired i'll
black silk, dark bob-haired styled hat,
and big white fur choker. Com
plimentary remarks were passed. Many
whispered compliments on her beauty
and style were heard behind the rail.
Mrs. Chaplin testified that she left
her husband on advice of physicians
when her condition was "hysterical
because of cruelty"
During the four mDnthS she re-
manned away from him Chaplin called
on her about once a week During
that time 1le took her to dinner twice.
did he take you out at ALL" Nc
Murray asked
very seldom and then he would say
that he was taking me out for ap-
pearance sake only. He used to say
that to me all the time, even before I
left him."
She testified of q months trip to
Coronado near San Diego, during
which time Chaplin did not visit her.
Later she remained on Santa Cata-
lima island for month and no calls
came from the comedian. Then she
Id of the trip to Honolulu which
preceded the final break; of the party
Of guests which Chaplin demanded she
n ~ 1oor rJiY hnf.
grandparents home.
Two girl friends and her mother
followed her to the stand Only a
few words came from each = of
corroborative nature
The court then announced that he
would formally grant the decree after
ten minutes recess during which he
would examine the agreement. The
settlement terms, the details of which
were not given out beyond terse
statement that it provided for payment
of $625, 900 to Mrs Chaplin including
attorneys fees, were ratified when
court rec1nvened and the decree for
nally entered.
A wrangle over receivers fees and
duration of the receiverShip on Chap
Inns properties followed when w. I.
Gilbert, receiver, appeared at the
counsel table. The matter went over.
The Chaplin break last November
was preceded by many rumors of dis
cord between the film funny man and
his very young leading lady whom he
took to Ennpalme, Mexico, to marry
in 1924.
Things came to head shortly after
the return of Mrs Chaplin and her
eldest son from trip to Honolulu.
It was on December last, that news
paper top-lined the fact that Mrs.
,naplin mad fled with her two sons
from the Beverly Hills mansion of the
screen jester. She Immediately issued
q statement declaring Chaplin had in
suited her guests. The comedian re-
manned silent until after his wife had
/ elaborated on her first accounts of
the trouble by declaring that the COM
edian cursed and swore at her in de-
manding that the party be ordered
from the house. His first retort was
denial of his wife's charges with a few
accusations of his own, among them
| one that his wife had abused charge
accounts at various public places.
Hardly Lad the first severe exchange
| DCOI1 JI1l1GCQ Ol1d11 OfCA OuACO 4O4 oCO-
tlement Of the quarrel were begun by
Chaplin and his attorneys. His wife
refused to return to him, however, and
amplified her charges almost daily.
Later announcement was made that
! she would file divorce action and it
| followed in due time as one of the
biggest sensations to involve high
light of the motion picture colony.
Chaplin was not here to be served,
however, for he had hastened to New
York shortly after the first verbal
round.
| Dozens of pages were devoted to
ruthlessly heaping charges on the COM
emdians head, ranging from incom-
patability to unprintable things. Pen
ury, drunkenness, cruelty and many
other things, however, took a back seat
| to the shock Hollywood received when
| the vigorous wife accused the COM
edian of improper conduct with prom
inent picture actresses. She demand
ed divorce, alimony of $4,000 per
month and custody of her children.
After many court battles by attor-
neys for Mrs. Chaplin seeking an ali
mony award, during which the gov
|