Cartoonists in the News

7/9/1939
Cartoonist Crosby's Wife Wins Divorce
Creator of Skippy is Ordered to Pay Her $14,500, Cede Lands

Agnes Dale Crosby, wife of Percy Leo Crosby, creator of the comic strip character "Skippy," yesterday was granted a temporary divorce from her artist husband in Fairfax County Circuit Court by Judge Waletr T. McCarthy. Charges of cruelty were brought by Mrs. Crosby against her husband.

Judge McCarthy ordered Crosby to pay $14,500 annually to his divorced wife. He also ordered the transfer of two tracts of land in Fairfax County and 1,400 acres in Loudoun County to Mrs. Crosby. Under the court order, Mrs. Crosby retains custody of the four children, Percy, 9; Barbara Dale, 7; Joan Caroline, 6 and Carol, 5.

While artist Crosby is given the privilege of visiting his children, the court decree contains an injunction restraining him from interfering with his wife or children or seeking to gain control.

In her petition Mrs. Crosby charged that her husband had on several occasion assaulted her. An indenture was made between the couple on May 11 providing for a lump-sum payment of $15,000 by Crosby to his wife. They were married in New York City on April 4, 1929.


8/15/1937
Many Actors Got Start on Newspapers

The newspaper business, which has contributed heavily in personnel to practically all professions, has given a large number of actors to motion pictures, a survey of Hollywood revealed recently.

Four cartoonists, 10 reporters, and advertising and circulation department representatives have been graduated into the ranks of the film stars, among other employees of newspapers.

Gary Cooper, currently in "Souls at Sea," was at one time a newspaper cartoonist, and the story concerning the firing of John Barrymore, another artist, by the late Arthur Brisbane, is now historical. Leo Carrillo, now in "Hotel Haywire," was a cartoonist in San Francisco, and Keye Luke, Chinese character actor, is famous for his newspaper and magazine drawings.

[article continues discussing non-cartoonists...]

2/16/1934
Police Guarding 'Ding,' Noted Cartoonist, From Kidnapers

Des Moines, Feb. 15 - State police tonight guarded Jay N. Darling ("Ding"), nationally known newspaper cartoonist and sportsman, against reports that he was next on gangdom's list of intended kidnap victims.

Secrecy veiled investigation by State and Federal officers, but Federal Agent O.C. Dewey announced that evidence of a carefully planned plot to abduct Darling had been discovered.

In their efforts to provide every safeguard, the officers kept the cartoonist's whereabouts secret.

The purported plot was discovered while Darling was returning from Washington, where he attended a conference of President Roosevelt's wild life conservation committee.

A telegram, signed with a fictitious name, asked Darling when he would arrive in Chicago and where he would stay. Officers indicated they had traced the telegram to a supposed Chicago gangster.

Federal agents guarded Darling while he stopped in Chicago and escorted him to the Iowa border, where State officers joined him. Since his return to Des Moines last Wednesday, the State agents have been with him constantly.

A farmhouse near Creston, in southwest Iowa, figured in the purported plot, the officers believed. The farmhouse, definite location of which has not been determined, also was mentioned as the possible hideaway of the Edward G. Bremer kidnapers.

The officers indicated their belief that a definite ransom demand for Darling's release had been fixed in event the kidnaping was effected.

The announcement of the supposed plot was amde, Dewey indicated, in the hope that publicity might serve as a warning and discourage attempt to carry out the abduction.

Darling, widely known for his cartoons in newspapers and magazines, also is prominent for his work in conservation of the Nation's wild life and his broad acquaintance in political fields.

2/25/1932
Ripley, Cartoonist, Faces $500,000 Balm Suit

New York, Feb. 24 - Robert L. Ripley, the cartoonist of "Believe It Or Not" fame, is being sued for $500,000 for alleged breach of promise of marriage by Marion Ohnick, 37, a prima donna, who formerly appeared with the San Carlo Opera Company in the title role of "Madame Butterfly."

Miss Ohnick, who also is known as Haru Onuki, of Long Beach, Calif., has been appearing recently on a vaudeville circuit, her attorny, Abraham Greenberg, said.