Wow! I just saw a fantastic movie – Clint Eastwood’s ‘Changeling,’ based on real events that happened in Los Angeles back in 1928. I highly recommend this movie. It was well worth the $12 ticket and $4.75 for one tiny bottle of water at the Cinerama Dome. The best part about the movie was the visuals – the clothing, the street cars, and Los Angeles as it must have really looked back in 1928.
Now I’m trying to find out what happened to Walter Collins’ mother, Christine Collins. On the internet, someone claims she died in 1935, which is absolutely not true, because according to the archives of the Los Angeles Times, she renewed her civil judgement against police captain J.J. Jones in 1941. Originally she sued for $500,000, and ended up with a $10,000 civil judgement, which as far as I can tell by reading the old newspaper records, she was never able to collect.
Suit to Renew Old Judgment Recalls Northcott Murders:Mother of
Supposed Victim Who Was Imprisoned as Insane in Imposter Mixup
Tries to Collect Damages
Los Angeles Times (1886-Current File). Los Angeles,
Calif.:Jan 29, 1941. p. 1A (1 pp.)
Abstract (Summary)
Recalled to mind yesterday was one of the strangest cases in the
annals of police history When Mrs. Christine Collins filed suit for
renewal of her $15,562 judgment against Capt. J. J. Jones, retired
police officer, in Superior Court.
Indexing (document details)
Document types:article
Publication title:Los Angeles Times (1886-Current File). Los
Angeles, Calif.: Jan 29, 1941. pg. 1A, 1 pgs
Police Officer Faces Old Suit:Judgment for $10,800 on False
Arrest Not Satisfied, Says Woman
Los Angeles Times (1886-Current File). Los Angeles,
Calif.:Dec 27, 1938. p. a2 (1 pp.)
JONES CASE HALT CALLED:Davis Refuses to Act Further
Police Chief Takes Stand in Damage Award Won by Mrs.
Collins Matter of Additional Penalty Up to Department
Head Under Ruling
Los Angeles Times (1886-Current File). Los Angeles,
Calif.:Aug 13, 1934. p. A7 (1 pp.)
COURT UPHOLDS COLLINS AWARD:Appeal Judges Let $10,300
Verdict Stand
Los Angeles Times (1886-Current File). Los Angeles,
Calif.:May 14, 1933. p. 15 (1 pp.)
Here’s the official website for the movie, but it’s very heavy on video and graphics so if you have a slow internet connection, don’t even bother with it. I have a high-speed internet connection and the page was still hard to pull up on my computer.
[...] of the Los Angeles Times, she renewed her civil judgement against police captain JJ Jones in 1941. Read More|||Schwarzenegger campaigns in Ohio for McCainLos Angeles Times%26amp;nbsp;- 21 hours agoThe [...]
By: | Zhang's Blog on November 2, 2008
at 12:14 pm
[...] Changeling – Christine Collins Story – What Happened To Her? Wow! I just saw a fantastic movie – Clint Eastwood’s ‘Changeling,’ based on real events that [...] [...]
By: Top Posts « WordPress.com on November 4, 2008
at 12:11 am
My son, Nik, and I went to see the changeling. My mouth was open throughout the whole painful ordeal, I could not believe what I was seeing. I think Clint Eastwood did a fabulous job on the movie and the music. I was not a huge fan of Angelina Jolie before, but she won my heart with this role, she deserves an oscar. We should know about the courage and faith of Christine and the pastor & lawyer that helped her. Her story gave me faith and hope that God can use the most horendous circumstances and bring restoration from them. Cudo’s Cudo’s Cudo’s. I just pray that, Christine found peace, and is now reunited with her son.
By: Lolita R. Coppage on November 5, 2008
at 2:34 am
Someone, somewhere has to know what happened to Christine Collins. . .family, friends, lawyers,etc? It is weird that she just disappeared after 1941–she was probaly only about 40 in 1941.
Hmm.. . very mysterious
By: Dawn on March 23, 2009
at 6:25 am
Absolutely heartpounding movie…Well done Eastwood and Jolie. As heartaching as it is to lose a child and most devistating part never knowing what HAPPENED has to be one of the hardest thing for Mrs. Collins let alone any parent.
I hope that in the end Christine Collins changed her identity and started her life all over else where, and found peace and closure in the loss of her son whether or not she ever found him or not!
By: Kristine on April 7, 2009
at 10:10 pm
Per: SSDI, Christine died in Dec. of 1964 in LA…..SS card had the name “Kathleen Collins”…..no idea why she changed her first name, though…….
By: marge on April 19, 2009
at 10:28 pm
what really happen to mrs. collins?? i was really bothered by the movie. i took pity on her. did she really find her son? were they reunited?
By: jeanmL on November 8, 2009
at 3:30 pm
She never found her son. So far, since the movie was released, nobody’s offered up any definitive answers as to where or when Christine Collins died.
By: roxanneadams on November 8, 2009
at 11:28 pm