Evening star., 1938-04-12
.C00CAN,PIO0R,SUES
FOR HIS EARNINGS.
Stepfather Is Charged in
Action Seeking Return
of $4,000, 900.
By the Associated Press.


LOS ANGELES, April 12.-Jackie
Coogan The Kid" who transformed
rags into millions, is almost in rags
again, he charged in 100000
suit against his mother and step
father today.
Mr.. Coogan, now % and recently
married to Actress Betty Cradle, filed
his suit yesterday. charging his mother
and her second husband, Arthur Bern
stein, withheld his earnings as a
child film star. He quoted his mother
as having told him:
You haven't got a cent. There
never has been a cent belonging to
YOU It's all mine and Arthur's, and
as far as we are concerned you never
will get cent"
Charles j. Katz, counsel for Mr.
Bernstein, characterized Mr.. Coogans
charges as absurd.
THE young man has received every
thing he is entitled to and more" he
said. His mother was entitled to all
his earnings up to the time he be-
came of age"'
Mr.. Katz also said Mr. Coogan's
estimate of his screen earnings was
much too high.
Blames Stepfather.
Explaining his suit, Jackie said:
Il have waited patiently for some
time for my mother and Mr.. Bern
stein to make an accounting to me OF
my property. l owe a duty to my wife
and to myself not to wait longer.
1t is a course which l deeply re-
gret to take 1t is my intention at
all times to see that my mother and
my little brother are amply provided
for I am satisfied if she were not
under the influence of Bernstein she
would have made a proper accounting
to me long ago"
Mrs Bernstein told an interviewer
she was deeply hurt by her sons
action.
Il am sure he has been misguided by
outside influences" she said,
He says he has nothing and that
refused to give him any part of the
estate. No promises ever were made
to give him anything
Mr.. Coogan'S complaint said he be-
lieves Mr. Bernstein has dissipatec
considerable of his money BY playing
the horse races.
Reviews Career.
He reviewed his movie career, be-
ginning in 1919 with Charles Chap.
lin, when he played a bobbed-hairee
little Waif. His family, he said, was
having "a hard struggle to get along
on the meager earnings of his father
vaudeville trouper.
From Tho Kid" and II hit pictures
that followed, Mr. Coogan said. all hi
received was an $500 automobile. 6
s6,25 weekly allowance and a $1,000
insurance policy.
AS for a million-d dollar trust fund.
supposed to have been left him, il
never existed. Mr.. Coogan asserted.
When he became of age. he said
even his small spending allowance wa,
stopped by his mother and Mr. Bern.
stein, and he since has been dependen
upon occasional stage and screen en-.
gagements for his living.
Mr.. Bernstein was financial adviser
to JaCkie's father, who was killed ir
an auto accident in 1885. He contiu.
ued as administrator of Jacsie's prop
erty and in 1886 married Jackies
mother
Charges in Suit.
Jackie charged in MS suit that:
Mr.. Bernstein is operating a beer.
distributing business and charging the
overhead to Jackie Coogan Produc-
tions, Inc.
Mr.. Bernstein once told him. wher
he asked to look at the books, to get
out and stay out You can't see the
books and you'll never see them
Mr.. Bernstein induced him to sign
away his rights to the $1,000 insur-
ence policy.
Mr., Bernstein is wearing a s2,50C
platinum watch that was sent Jackie
by an admirer when he was chile
star.
Mr.. Bernstein, nattily dressed, reac
the suit over with his wife.
The only money I've drawn from
Jackie Coogan Productions, Inc, il
my salary" he commented. The
books will show that. What l do with
my salary is my own business"
Superior Judge Emmett Wilson sci
April 20 for hearing the suit, ap.
pointed a temporary receiver for the
assets of Mr.. Coogan and Mr.. anc
Mrs Bernstein and issued tempo.
rary order restraining the defendants
from disposing of any property pend.
ing the hearing,