Evening star., 1944-12-21
Pleas for MARRIAGE
Refused by Chaplin,
Joan Berry Testifies
BY the Associated Press.

LOS ANGELES. Dec. 21.-A wor.
ried-looking, attractive girl of "a
who twists her hands and shift,
about in the witness chair, has testi-
fled that Charlie Chaplin fatherec
her baby, but that when she inn
plored him to give the child hi.
name, he replied: You know my
views on marriage: I don't believe
in it."
Auburn -haired Joan Berry, who
faces jury again today in her suit
to have the 55-year-old comedian
declared the father of her 14-mon.h.
old Carol Ann, testified to four sex
ual intimacies.
She declared she had had mo re-
lationS" with any other man since
meeting Chaplin in June, 1941.
Several times she appeared on the
verge of tears.
Il asked him at least five times to
marry me-" she said. "I told him,
III even divorce you after the baby
is born If that's the way you want
it, But he said: I don't want any
part of anything like that"
Preferred 20 Years in Jail.
She said the comedian Jumped
up" and exclaimed: I'D rather
spend 20 years in Jail and have my
peace. I'm a great artist. I've got
to protect my soul. No woman Is
going to force me into marriage"
Joan said all of their intimacies
occurred in 1912. She asserted that
when she told him she was ex-
pectant he told her, III do the right
thing"-but-
He said, If you take any step
like that Ito bring a suit) and cause
me any publicity I haven't any
choice: to protect myself I'll spend
my entire fortune to blacken your
name. I'll bring into it every man
you've ever spoken to-
Joan said she encountered Chap
lin in a restaurant the night of De-
cember 10, 1912, and that she in
troduced her companion, Hans
Ruesch. She said Chaplin told her,
I'll see you later" and that she
knew "he wanted to see me that
night"
She went to his home about 1890
pm, she continued.
On the night of December %,
Joan continued, she broke into
Chaplin's home by smashing the
glass in a door. She was carrying a
gun.
when did you see him again?"
she was asked.
Proposes Business Basis.
December 30," she replied. HE
was to pay me s25 week. I said,
I've come for my money. Charles,
from now on 1 want to be on
business basis. He talked
to me for long time, about Anatole
France, the writer: about Russia"
She said Chaplin offered to drive
her home
Was anything said on the way?"
Yes. In the car I said. Charles,
I know this is a terrible thing to
do. but 1 really cannot get along
with $25 a week
He said. Joan, every once in
while you come up with Fascist
ideas I said, Charles, what if I
told you I had no place to live?'
Just then we were passing the Bev-
erly Hills Jail and he said, Well,
there's the jail"
Joan said he stopped the car, she
got out and he called her back, but
she didn't return.
Told to Get Out.
She said she saw Chaplain again
May 8. She said she told him,
Charles. I have something impor-
tant to tell you" She said he told
her to wait for him at the tennis
court, but that an hour later he met
her there and told her to return
next day.
When she returned the next eve
ming, Joan testified, Chaplin told
her. Get out of here. If you dot
I'll call the police" In a few mil .
utes, she added, the police arrived
and took her to Jail
She said she spent night in the
Beverly Hills Jail and three or
four days in the county Jail GA va
grancy charge against her was
subsequently dismissed.)