The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-09-17
Arbuckle in a Seri-
GUS Predicament
Fat Film Comedian Charged
With Causing Death Of
Woman

arCatShtN III t)OlICS Sou1 I1SAO W
day on a charge of murder in con-
nection with the death of Miss Vir-
ginia Rape, motion picture actress,
which occurred las. Friday follow
ing g. party in ArbG:kle's rooms at
the ST. Francis hotel last Monday
The complaint against Arbuckle,
the second to be lodged against him
since his arrival here from Los
Angeles Saturday, vas signed by
Mrs. Bambina belmont, a friend of
the dead woman. The first COM
plant made by police officials was
for the purpose Of holding the
comedian in custody pending fur
ther investigation. When Arbuckle
appeared before Judge Daniel
O'Brien today he refused to talk Of
the case Through his attorney
continuance to Friday was obtain
ed anG the prisoner was returned
to his cell.
REPRESENTATIVES Of the district
attorneys Office continued their
questioning of those known TO have
attended the Arbuckle party last
Monday and from these, District
Attorney Brady stated was obtain
ed evidence which will be used
against the actor at his trial.
Among those questioned today was
Mrs. Sidi Writ Spreckles, widow OF
John D. Spreckles. Jr. Mrs.
Spreckles told the district attorney
that she was Informed over the
telephone last Friday by Gfrs. Del
mont that the young actress was in
a serious condition in local hos
pital Mrs. belmont asked Mrs.
Spreckles to telegraph Henry Lehr-
man in New York concerning Miss
Rappe's condition After the tele-
gram had been set Mrs. Spreckles
told the dictrict attorney that she
called at the hospital and saw Miss
Rappe.
Mrs. Spreck@s said she was not
sure Miss Rappe recognized her
but she said to Mrs. Spreckles: "Oh
to think that LED such a quiet life
and to think that should get into
such party"
Later in the day Mrs. Spreckles
said she returned to the hospital
with an answer TO the telegram she
sent to Lehrman. On her arrival at
the hospital Mrs Spreckles said
the Rappe girl was unconscious
and the telegram was not read to
her.
Mrs. Spreckies told the district
attorney that she then called on
Dr. L. Gordon, pastor of the First
! Congregational church, and asked
him to offer prayers. for the dying
girl. Mrs. Spreckles met Miss
Rap in this city in 1915, she said.
Hoyxe Clarke, a cafe entertainer,
was summoned to the Office of the
captain Of detectives after it was
learned that she had been invited
to Arbuckle's party. Miss Clarke
said she went as far as the lobby
of the hotel but decided not to go
to Arbuckles rooms. She met Mrs.
! belmont the next day, she said,
and Mrs. belmont gave her the
details Of the party and the al
ledged attack.
Arbuckle spent the afternoon at
the inquest. Once he went to his
cell to await the outcome of the
grand jury investigation in which
Mrs. belmont was expected to be
the leading witness. Mrs. belmont
did not testify at the opening ses-
sion. the district attorney saying
that her appearance today pre-
vious to the grand jury session
would handicap the authorities. In
stead, physicians and others told
of Miss Rappes removal from Ar
buckles suite, her treatment in an
other hotel room and later at a
hospital, her death and the post
morgem examination.
The physicians We're unable to
say what was the exact cause Of
Miss Rappe's death.
larry J. Boyle, assistant man
age of the hotel, testified that
when called by Mrs. belmont to
Arbuckle's suite he found Mrs.
Delmont and Al Seminacher sitting
on Ghe edge Of bed where Miss
Rappe lay meaning and uncon-
SciouS.
.s,rbuckle picked up Miss Rappe
ans: carried her down the hotel
cor 'idor to another room, where
she: stayed until being taken to the
hospital three days later, accord
ing TO Boyle's testimony.
TOO much liquor was the dag
nosis given by DR.. Olav Kearboe,
the first physician called in, ac-
cording to Kearboe's own state
ment. At that time there was no
evidence of serious injury, he said.
Dr. NJ e Rumwell testified Miss
Rappe's condition did not seem Sc
rious until Thursday Of last week
When a consultation was held.
DIR. Rumwell said there was
nothing to indicate she had suffer
ed from any violence until the
post mortem examination when he
said evidence OF internal injuries
was found.
Dr. William Oppulse, called to
perform the post mortem, describ-
ed the internal injuries. but said he
could not say definitely what
caused them.
The inquest will be resumed to-
morrow.
Perjury i'm