HAD A SUMMONS FOR CHAPLIN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 16 December 1937, Page 7

HAD A SUMMONS FOR CHAPLIN

ENTERPRISE NOT REWARDED

HOLLYWOOD, 7th December

Although lie had adopted ingenious disguises reminiscent of the slapstick comedies of the early film days, Mr J. P. Lavelle, a deputy marshall, wearily admitted to-day that he had failed to serve a subpoena on Charlie Chaplin. The summons required Chaplin's deposition for a suit which is being brought in New York by Tobis Sound Films Limited, a French company, against Chaplin and others. When ordinary methods failed, Lavelle assumed in turn the roles of laundryman, messenger boy .and doctor, but on each occasion he was recognised and ejected. As a last resort before the time limit of the subpoena expired, Lavelle “crashed the gate’’ at an exclusive party at Chaplin’s home, but lie gave up his quest in disgust when he found that the comedian had been detained at his estate at Palm Springs, and had been unable to attend his own party.