THE ARBUCKLE CASE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 11045, 31 October 1921, Page 6

THE ARBUCKLE CASE

MURDER CHARG'D DISMISSED. SAN EUANCISCO* September 28. Koocoe (Patty) Arbuokl© was afternoon held to answer cm a charge of manslaughter as a result of the death of Virginia Rappe, following his Labour Day- party. Bodice Judge Lazarus made the order holding Arbuckle for the lesser of the two orimea with which he was charged after an hour's argument. This opens the way for Arbuckle to secure his release on hail. charge of first degree murder was dismissed. The prosecution completed its presentation oef evidence without having oalled Mrs Bambina Maude Delmont, .complaining witness. This move on the part of the district attorney, Matthew Brady, was wholly unexpected by Prank N. Dominguez, of Los Angeles, chief of the Arbuckle defence staff, who protested that the woman be caillecL The corpulent comedian, who is charged with the murder of Miss Virginia Rappe, is fast losing his "seared to death" look and policemen and prisoners are getting to to as much the usual thing in his life as formerly were the comedy cops and custard pies. He is also losing weight, having drop' ped from 266 pounds to 255 since hia arrest. This worries ('Fatty." -He does hot yet believe ‘he 5® "through" in the motion picture game. Meantime his attorneys are working hard on his defence, which, they insist, will show that "the Falstaff of the movies" did not kill the beautiful young actress, his guest at the last of his notorious "gin jollifications." At the same time, the district attorney is seeking new witnesses. He is to have nine persons under surveillance, most of them show girls who attended the Arbuckle "party," Dr. Arthur Beardslee. missing Hotel St. Francis physician, who attended Miss Virginia Rappe before her death, has been found. A telegram to District Attorney Matthew F. Brady from the sheriff at Douglass County. Nevada, at Minden, stated that Dt. Beardslee had left Mindem for Bridgeport. Mono County, Cal., on a hunting trip. Brady instructed the Mono County sheriff to order the physician to return at once to San Francisco. * Dr. Beardelee's testimony is expected to shed light on the condition of Mis 9 Rappe the day following the party in Aihuckle's suite.