A FATAL SUPPER

Otago Witness, Issue 3523, 20 September 1921, Page 17

A FATAL SUPPER

SAX FRANCISCO SENSATION. NEW YORK. September 10. Developments following the mysterious death of Y irginia Rappe, a pretty motion picture actress, have caused a sensation. 1110 death occurred after a supper party a _f ” Fatty Arbuckle’s rooms in Sau Francisco. Arbuckle told the police that several persons attended the party, including Miss Rappe. who, after several drinks, became hysterical, and, after a physician had been called in, died. On the other hand, women members of the party give quite a different version, which Arbuckle denies. September 12. Roscoe c Fatty ) Arbuckle, the kinema star, has been detained by the police as the result of the death <F Miss Virginia Rappe, the beautiful kinema actress, who died of peritonitis following a party in Aibuckle’s room, where she had several drinks. The police point out that the Californian law provides that a charge of murder shall be entered against anyone taking life during an attempt to commit a felony. The nurse who attended Miss Rappe claims that the actress stated that she had been assaulted. Arbuckle, upon the advice of counsel, refuses to say anything, but before beimr informed that the police desired an interview with him he had declared that after deceased took the drinks she became hysterical and tore the clothes off her body, compelling him to call a physician. lIARR OW INK 1) ESC R 1! >TION S. S-YX FRANCISCO. September 12. 1 lie . .ivuckle c-ce, which promises to became most sensational, as yet offers littie infinite information. The nurse anil friend of the actress swore the charge of murder, but details of the evidence arc not available. irresponsible newspapers publish harrowing descriptions of the alleged assault. most of which are hardly printable. Arbuckle will be detained without bail 'inlii Friday. It is stated that the police sequestered persons who participated in the fatal party, and who will testify in regard to Miss Rappe’s torn garments. ne prosecution appears to be taking every imaginable step to prevent Ai bi.icl-.le s friends from influencing the course the State will take. Mi--, Rappe, who was 25 years of age, was a designer of gowns and models before entering the moving pictures. .She was engaged to marry a New York mo tion picture director, who at one time directed the Arhuekle pictures. Arbuckle is aged 34, and was a juvenile actor when eight years of age. lie continued as a burlesque actor and dancer Ik;tore entering the motion picture business. Several theatres in Los Angeles have discontinued the exhibition of Arbuckle pictures, while the Mayor of one •mall city has ordered all theatres

to discontinue screening- Arbuckle pictures until the Arbuckle case has been settled. ARBUCKLE CHARGED WITH MURDER. NEW YORK, September 12. Arbuckle was formally charged with murder in the police court at San Francisco. Mrs Minta Durfce Arbuckle, wife of the actor, from whom she voluntarily separated last year under an agreement by which each can live as he or she wishes, declared that Arbuckle was innocent, and she would proceed to California to be near him until he was cleared of the charge against him. Arbuckle had recently completed the motion picture comedy “Crazy to Marry,” which is now being' cancelled all over the country bv kinema theatre managers. The papers state that Miss Rappe’s former lover threatens to come to San Francisco and kill Arbuckle. The doctors agree that a ruptured bladder was the cause of Miss Ramie’s death. A great crowd watched Arbuckle when he was taken to and from the court handcuffed. He was remanded on the formal charge of murder. The inquest was adjourned, after a session which rather favoured accused. UNRELIABLE WOMEN WITNESSES. SAN FRANCISCO. September 13. Tne grand jury announced that it cannot innict Arbuckle until it obtains further evidence regarding certain matters " hicli must he cleared up. The prosecuting attorney announced that several women witnesses before the grand jury reversed themselves concerning what happened m the room where Mis-s Rappe received her injuries. The attorney declared that lie will ask for the prosecution ol these witnesses on the ground of per.jury. and if the grand jury fails to indict be will .proceed with the prosecution of Arbuckle under the Police Court charge of murder The chief witness against Arbuckle has mysteriously disappeared. When the inquest was resumed Mrs Belmont., who laid the murder complaint, failed to substantiate her lirst storv. She now says that Arbuckle merely followed Miss Rappe into the bedroom, and closed the door. Ho did not drag her in. She described Miss Rappe as tearing off her own clothes. The inquest proceedings became rather farcical when Mrs Delmont grew sleepy on the witness stand, and told the coroner haltingly that she took a hypodermic before coming into court. CHARGE OF MANSLAUGHTER, XE\V YORK, September 14. California being nominally dry, the Californian Prohibition Director examined Arbuckle with a view to finding out where the liquor which' was allegedly consumed at the party winch ended m Y?iss Rappe’s death was obtained. He spent an hour in futile questioning. The only reply Arbuckle made was that he did not have any liquor.

The San Francisco grand jury indicted Arbuckle on a charge of manslaughter. Arbuckle refused to give evidence at the inquest on the body of Miss Rappe. ACCUSED STILL IN GAOL. NEW YORK, September 15. Ihe coroner's jury at Sau Francisco returned a verdict of manslaughter against Arbuckle, who is still held in gaol with four charges against him—two of murder and two of manslaughter, but in view oi the jury’s verdict the prosecution is likely to ask for the trial of Arbuckle on a charge of manslaughter instead of murder. Arbuckle was greatly affected by the coroner’s verdict, turning pale and mopping his brow. Federal officials are seeking to confiscate Arbuckle’s motor car, which cost him £SOOO, because it was used to convey liquor from Los Angeles to San Francisco for the fatal party. Arbuckle s creditors are starting suits againnst him for 100,000 dollars. MURDER CHARGE NOT DROPPED. SAN FRANCISCO, September 16. Arbuckle was arraigned at the Police Court for a preliminary hearing of the murder charge. The judge agreed to the continuance for five days. The district attorney declares that he hopes to bring the comedian to trial within three weeks on a murder charge, and not on two charges of manslaughter. Arbuckle is showing the strain, pacing his cell tiil midnight. ARBUCKLE FILM BURNED. NEW YORK, September 17. One hundred and fifty cowboys and cattlemen entered a \\ yoming theatre where an Arbuckle film was showing. They seized the film and burned it in the street. The manager of the theatre stated that the Purity League had requested that Hie film should not be shown, but he saw no reason to acquiesce. MELBOURNE, September 15. The controllers of Arbuckle films have withdrawn the circulation of all Arbuckle pictures in Australia.