Film Star's Latest Adventure

NZ Truth, Issue 997, 3 January 1925, Page 7

Film Star's Latest Adventure

■;■] Spotlight On Ma^el Normand Cited As Co-Responderit— Charges Wife With Libel Mable Wants £100,000 Dimages Vivid little screen star Mabel Normand, once a Mack Sennett bathing girl, and for ysars o"s of the greatest stunt artists i m filmland, has again struck trouble. ; v ' +*■'■■■:■■ Desmond Taylor's murder — Mabel was with the producer a few moments before he was found dead m his, bungalow — put ' • her out of pictures for a year or two. Then, quite lately, when . her chauffeur— -and alleged lover— attempted to murder millionaire Dives, m Mabel's^own dining-room, the name of Mabel was mud. In several States the ban on her pictures has not been removed. Now the little lady is a co-respondent m a divorce suit.

"Unusual elements make Mabel's latest little adventure interesting. Mrs. Georgia W. Church, wife of Norman Church, a wealthy clubman, is suing her husband for divorce. The period mentioned m the. allegations is between July and August, 19^3. According to the divorce petition, filed m the Lbs Angeles Court, Church told his wife that Mabel Normand was "accustomed to run m and out of his room attired only m her nightgown, and to have drink 3 with' him ..there."- The film star, the complaint further alleged, frequently, brought flowers into Church's room. After Church was taken home from the hospital, it was charged, he told his wife that' Mabel told him "if he did not keep still she would tell him naughty stories," and that she kissed; him good-byo. when he left. : PICTURES UNPROFITABLE. ; Because, of being held up as a "vamp," Mabel has found the task of making a new footing ,m the movies exceedingly difficult. f \ While few iwill believe her, Miss Normand swears that until the injured lady filed her petition for divorce, she (Mabel) was" earning over £30i000, a year. Now she de-

clares that it' is unprofitable to undertake, the making of news: films. ] The petition mentioned that, as a result of a motor-car accident, s Church was removed to, the Good Samaritan Hospital, occupying, a room near one m which Mabel Normand was convalescing from injuries suffered- when she fell off a horse at Coronado. Mabel, never one to., turn the other cheek to the aggressor, has issued a writ for libel against Mrs. Church, and wants a cool £100,000 damages, a "judicial investigation," declarations, and ''further and other relief," as the lawyer men say. . , QUITE PROPER. While denying misconduct with Church, Mabel has, however, admitted that on, two occasions, when properly attired, and m the "presence of 'other people," she , conversed "formally" with Church m his room. \ By reason of the wide publicity given the Church divorce, a "spirit of resentment" -has been aroused against the screen star, especially among those accustomed to patronising, her pictures. "Miss Normand's reputation as a motion picture star," the complaint declares, "has been damaged to such an extent that she cannot proceed .with the production of further pictures profitably." ".. .. , Whether Mabel will again be "lucky," and come out of the ordeal successfully,time alone will tell.