Chaperau's Way

Albert Nathaniel Chaperau (ne Shapiro) was a poor boy, and had to make his own way in the world. His way led him from Poland to Philadelphia, Manhattan, London, Paris, Brussels, Australia, Hollywood. It frequently brought him into contact with police and prison keepers, and last week it led him into U. S. District Judge William Bondy's Manhattan courtroom. There three indictments were read to blond, buttery Albert Chaperau. Having heard himself charged with conspiracy, smuggling, faking a passport and fraudulently claiming U. S. citizenship, imperturbed Mr. Chaperau observed: "My past is not a phonograph record to be played over and over again."

His immediate past interested not only U. S. authorities but respected people in Manhattan and Hollywood. Most interested was Mrs. Elma N. Lauer, wife of New York Supreme Court Justice Edgar J. Lauer. She was indicted along with Albert Chaperau for conspiring to smuggle $1,833 worth of Paris finery into the U. S. If convicted on all counts, she might have to go to jail for eight years, pay $25,000 in fines.

"I blame it all on Adolf Hitler," said Chaperau. The Fuehrer's connection was via one Rosa Weber, until lately a maid in the Lauer household. According to Albert Chaperau, she overheard much anti-Nazi conversation while she was serving Mr. and Mrs. Lauer, Chaperau, Publisher William Weintraub of Ken, "a London and Paris financier" named Serge Rubenstein, and three other guests at dinner in October.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Rosa Weber is supposed to have announced, "I am a true German. I love Adolf Hitler. If you don't stop talking against him, I will stop serving the dinner right now."

Justice Lauer then & there fired Rosa Weber. She went to customs authorities with a story about Mrs. Lauer's new clothes.

Albert Chaperau explained that he liked to bring in gifts for his friends. Acquaintances of Mr. Chaperau were called upon to explain that they accepted his gifts in good faith. Among the embarrassed donees were Comedians Jack Benny and Jack Pearl; Cinemactor Wallace Ford, Hotelman Ralph Hitz, Twentieth Century-Fox Executive Joseph Moskowitz. Professing great "amusement" over it all last week, Albert Chaperau cracked:

"I smuggled in a dwarf for Snow White, a wig for Shirley Temple, shoes for Garbo, size 9, a necktie for Charlie McCarthy, a rattle for Mickey Mouse and a corncob pipe for Popeye."

Shortly afterward Albert Chaperau ceased to be amused. He was twice more indicted along with Comedian George Burns (sidekick of Gracie Allen) for smuggling $4,885 worth of diamond bracelets and a ring. To make matters worse, jolly George Burns admitted making payments to Chaperau, pleaded guilty to nine counts, laid himself open to a maximum sentence of 18 years in prison and a $45,000 fine.

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