CHAPLIN DIVORCE CASE.

Grey River Argus, 18 June 1927, Page 3 (Supplement)

CHAPLIN DIVORCE CASE.

£250,000 TAX BILL. WILL SHORTLY FACE CHARGES. Troubles of Charlie Chaplin, the film comedian, who is being sued for divorce by his wife, were recently multiplied, it will be recalled, by staggering income tax demands made again s thim by I the United States Treasury. As the outcome of these, it is understood, he has agreed to pay Hie revenue authorities £250,000 in settlement of claims for unpaid tax extending over five years. What virtually amounted to an armistice was reached when his lawyers paid over a cheque for an amount not specified. Government officials deny that the payment represents the total sum demanded. When Mrs Chaplin filed her divorce petition in California hurt January her husband’s fortune was estimated at £3,500,000, of which £2.000,000, it was stated, came under the Californian communal property law. This law, dating from the days of the early Spanish settlements in Mexico and California, says in effect (that all earned income, subsequent to marriage, is the joint property of husband and wife. In the event of divorce proceedings the Court may divide such

communal property as they see fit, provided the grounds of the proceedings are infidelity or extreme cruelty.

In pursuance of this law, the whole of Mr Chaplin’s Californian property was seized. It was also said that his private safes were opened, and that Los Angeles banks (were canvassed, with a view 4-0 examining the contents of safe-deposit boxes. The Federal Government then entered the arena with a demand for £215,000. said to represent tax claims covering the past seven years. This claim took priority over all rights possessed by Mrs Chaplin, and prevented her from obtaining alimony pending the trial of her suit. Later it was stated that a revenue col-

lector had filed liens amounting to £314,000 against Chaplin’s accounts

in New York banks. The comedian is shortly due to leave New York for Los Angeles to answer ,his wife’s complaint.