Description:

PRO-NAZI MAID NEARLY DESTROYS HOLLYWOOD CAREERS OF STARS GEORGE BURNS AND JACK BENNY
GEORGE BURNS and JACK BENNY were two of the most beloved and successful comedians of their time and shared a lifelong friendship. A lesser-known fact about the two is their indictment in 1938 for smuggling; though a scandal at the time, it never severely affected their careers. The accusations were also aimed at N.Y. Supreme Court Justice Edgar J. Lauer and his wife Elma, and Albert N. Chaperau. A most intriguing story of revenge laid the groundwork for the indictment. German citizen Rosa Weber was working for the Lauers and serving dinner for them and their guests which included Burns, Benny and Chaperau. That evening, derogatory comments were made of Adolf Hitler, which infuriated Weber. She stood up for her country and Hitler and refused to continue her service if the comments continued. Edgar Lauer consequently fired her on the spot, after which it is reported she cried: 'I'll get even with you all for this!'. Weber's statement was surely dismissed at the time, though it only took a matter of days for federal customs agents to begin searching the Lauer's home for expensive clothing and jewelry that had been smuggled into the country by way of Chaperau, whom it was later discovered was actually Nathan Schapiro who had also served 18 months in Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary following a conviction of mail fraud in 1919. Faced with significant jail time, Elma Lauer and George Burns pleaded guilty, as did Chaperau, though he eventually turned against the others upon their refusal to bail him out of jail. Contrary to his friends, Jack Benny pleaded not guilty and went to trial on the charge of buying $1,200 in smuggled jewelry for his wife. In the end, Weber's actions were felt by all. Burns was fined $8,000 and given a suspended sentence, Benny was fined $10,000 also with a suspended sentence, and Elma Lauer was fined $2,500 and served three months in prison. The scandal led Edgar Lauer to resign his from his seat on the New York Supreme Court. Chaperau was eventually pardoned by President Roosevelt for his assistance in the prosecution of other gem smugglers. For her role as a government informant, despite her political pro-Nazi affiliations, Weber was paid over $8,000 as a reward. Offered here is Rosa Weber's collection of personal documents, including German passports and identification cards, travel passes, her clearance certificate for emigration to the U.S. with several supporting documents, a checkbook and bank statements, nine Third Reich stamped certificates, an American driving permit, and more, all ranging from the 1930s to the late 1970s. Also present is a German clothbound photo album, 10 x 7 in., from the 1930s depicting Weber with friends and family while still living in Germany. As nothing was ever written about Weber again after the court case it is hard to say whether her loyalty to Hitler remained throughout the war, but it is quite clear from the paperwork seen here that she returned to America around 1955.

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January 19, 2024 10:00 AM EST
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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