Evening star., 1954-12-26
Macfadden Seeking
Loan From Anybody
To Keep Out Of Jail
sY the Asseeiotsd Press

- ~ FNesS~s@scS ftSN1
DANsvnLE, N. Y, Dec. 25-
9ernarr Macfadden, 86. physical
culture enthusiast who made
and lost millions, asked for q
loan today-from Just anybody
to keep him out of jail.
New York courts refuse to
believe that back taxes and aii-
mony to wives have depleted my
finances" the dapper. white
haired man said in a statement
distributed to newsmen.
II must raise $4,000 in 10
days or go to JAIL" he added.
The Jail reference was related
to court actions brought BY
Jonnie Lee Macfadden, 48. an
interior decorator who recently
won a separation from him, and
his second wife, Mary Macfad-
den.
Asks Dempsey's Assistance.
To help him raise the $10,00S
to satisfy the court actions. MI:
Macfadden said he had asked
Jack Dempsey, former heavy
weight champion. to act on his
behalf.
"I have asked Jack Dempsey
:. to act as custodian of funds
from those who might want to
help to keep me out Of jail till
I can repay them somehow" Mr..
Macfadden's statement said, add
ing:
please help me. This is my
worst Christmas In SO years"
Mr.. Macfadden ran into legal
troubles last Tuesday when he
was adjudged in contempt Of
New York Supreme Court.
Justice s. Samuel Di Falco
took the action on grounds that
Mr.. Macfadden had failed to pay
$500 in alimony arrears and
$1,000 in counsel fees to Jonnie
Lee Macfadden, his third wife.
Must Pay $4,000.
The justice said Mr.. Macfad-
den could purge himself Of the
contempt by paying So $500 Of the
$500 within 10 days and $4,000
within 20 days.
n
Justice Di Falco also found Mr..
Macfadden in contempt in an
action brought by the City Bank
Farmers Trust Co. and involving
his second wife, the former Mary
Williamson, a one-time London
health contest winner.
Mr.. Macfadden was ordered
to pay $3,315 to make up deficits
In trust he created for wife
No. 2.
To purge himself Of this latter
contempt, Mr.. Macfadden must
pay the money within 20 days.
Mr.. Macfadden was not i'm
mediately available at his health
center here for further comment
on his statement, but an asso-
ciate described him as being
"morose and in tears"
"For the first time in all Of
the years I've been associated
with him I saw tears in his eyes
today" said Edward Z. Bodin,
vice president OF the Bernar
Macfadden Foundation.
Heads Foundation.
Mr.. Macfadden Is president Of
the foundation. which he started
in 1881 with q. grant Of $5
million. s&
ne once was reported worth
$50 million.
In addition to his health work,
he once owned a number Of pub
lications, including magazines
and newspapers.
The foundation operates o
number of properties in addition
to the Dansville Health Center
and publishes a magazine called
"Macfadden's Joyous Life"
But the trouble, as explained
by Mr.. Bodin, is that the founda-
ton is not authorized by its
charter to lend money to indi-
viduals, even its founder.
"Macfadden has been living on
annuities since he gave away his
fortune to start the foundation.
Mr.. Bodin said. "He now gets
only about $4,000 q month and
must pay alimony and owes $685.
900 or more to the Government
in back taxes"
He just doesn't have any cash
more than a few hundred dol
lars Mr.. Bodin added. He gave
the foundation his last ST. 900
when it needed money several
years ago. And he can't borrow
anything because he hasn't any
security"