The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-09-15
ARBUCKLE CHARGED WITH NANSLAUCHTERI
BY CORONER'S JURY AT SAN FRANCISCO
Held Responsible for Death of
Miss Virginia Rappe, a
Movie Actress.
az LIE AssoeIated PressY

SAN FRANCISCO. Sept. 1.-THE cor
oner's jury returned a verdict today hold
ing that Miss Virginia Rappe, motion
picture actress, came to. her death
through peritonitis, caused by a rupture
of an internal organ. Roscoe (''Fatty'')
Arbuckle was held responsible by the
jury for Miss Rappe's injury and the
district attorney was directed to conduct
full investigation of the matter.
The verdict charged Arbuclzle with
nanslaughter and directed that all Off
cial sources concerned conduct a fun
and exhaustive investigation.
The jury held that Miss Rappe came
to her death through the application of
dence, was applied by Roscoe Arbuckle,
and we hereby charge him with man.
slaughter"
1--WE recommend that the district at
torney, chief OF police, grand jury and
prohibition enforcement officers take
steps to prevent a further occurrence Of
such events so that San Francisco viii
not be made the rendezvous of the de-
bauche and the gangster."
The verdict in assigning the cause of
Miss Rappe's death. said:
I'VE. the coroner's jury. find that the
said Virginia Rape, age 25, single, resi-
dance Los Angeles. came to her death
on September 8, at the Wakefield sani-
tarium from ruptured bladder, contrib
uting cause, peritonitis
And we further find that Virginia
Rappe came to her death from peritionitis
caused by a rupture OF the urinary blad-
der caused by the application Of some
force. which from the evidence submitted,
was applied by one Roscoe ArbuckIe.
I'VE therefore charge the said ArbuclxIe
with the crime of manslaughter."
Ben Boas, one of the nine jurors, re-
turned a minority verdict In which he
said that Miss Rappe's fatal injuries were
caused by the application OF some force
but am unable to say who applied it."
Two charges of murder, one preferred
by the police and the other by Mrs Bam-
bina Maude belmont, friend of Miss
Rappe, and two charges Of manslaughter,
ono returned by the grand jury and the
other by the coroner'J jury, rest against
Arbuckle.
The coroner's jury was out for more
than three hours after an examination
OF witnesses which started last Monday
Arbuckle although apparently deeply
moved. accepted the verdict with com
posure.
The verdict was the outstanding event
Of the Arbuckle case today. Other de-
velopments were:
The starting Of an investigation into
charges that liquor was brought to and
served at the Labor day party in Ar
buckles hotel rooms where Miss Rappe
was alleged to have suffered the attack
which ended IN her death.
The finding OF Betty Campbell. show
girl and one Of those attending the party.
after she was reported to have disappear
ed and her Interrogation By the district
attorney.
Matheson that one Of the girl witnesses /
who had attended the party had been ,
asked to accept q brfbe to withhold her
testimony.
District Attorney Matthew A. Brady
said he had not decided what course to
pssrsue 81 regard to the murder complaint,
Ii view o3 Ehe manslaughter charges. but
would settle the matter before Friday.
when Arbuckle appears IL police court 20
plead 81 the murder charge