The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-09-19
TRAGEDY
UNCOVERS RUM
ROAD ON COAST
Hollywood Colony Supplies
From San Francisco, Fed
eral Agents Learn.

has been unearthed by Federal au-
thorities investigating the liquor angle
Of Fatty" Arbuckle's famous festival.
In charge of this investigation is
Robert II. Mccormack, special as
sistant to Attorney General Daugh-
and prosecutions. Mccormack has
been handling the Investigation in San
Francisco, while State Prohibition Di-
rector T.. Forrest Mitchell and United
States District Attorney Robert O'Con-
.ner have been doing likewise in Los
Angeles.
Mccormick today received from the
south the complete transcript OF the
statements obtained from Ira G.. Fort
and Fred Fishbach-all guests at the
fatal festivities on Labor Day.
Regular System Found.
Putting the statements together,
with evidence secured here from the
Of the st. Francis, as well as other
persons. Mccormack made the follow
ing charges:
That regular system was in
operation whereby certain wealthy
men in the know could come from the
southern picture and millionaire col
ony to this city and be assured Of
ample llQuld Sustenance.
That the evidence was so impressive
day night from the Federal grand
jury, not indictments against indi-
viduals acting singly. but indictments
for conspiracy to violate the Volstead
act-a felony.
That action against individuals for
owning or transporting iquor-a mis-
demsanor-would be taken only after
the grand jury had had a chance to
act. and would be by the method Of
warrant rather than indictment.
Two of the witnesses questioned by
arrest before they would speak. One
at first said he would rather 60 to Jail
than tell what he knew, but he told.
Mrs. Bambine Maude belmont, the
States star witness in the Arbuckie
case, Is standing bravely by her guns.
That she has not weakened in the
least in her determination to bring
full vindication to her dead friend,
Virginia Rape, was quite evident
from a brief interview given by her
here today.
Won't Change Story.
She was propped up on pillows in
her bedroom at the Plaza Hotel,
where she Is under the care Of a
nurse and the guard Of a police
woman. She spoke with great
nervous intensity. her gray eyes
flashing. She is a woman OF forty.
I'm ready for the defense any
time. All have to do at the trial
is to tell the truth. And all the
Fatty Arbuckles and Frank Do
minguezes in the world won't be
able to shake me.
Virginia Rape was . good girl.
Any suggestion to the contrary Is a
lie and q. defamation.
OF course, as every one knows,
had had quite q number OF drinks
myself. But they didn't blind by
eyes TO what was happening. Vir-
ginfa Rappes condition woke me up.
Like Fatty 1 am off the booze
forever.
why did kick on the door? Be-
cause l knew something was wrong.
[ don't like that kind Of thing. II
had >ken Virginia there and was
responsible for her going. liked
that girl. She was whole-souled and
genuine.
Not Afraid Of Defense.
I'm not afraid Of the defense.
They'll get the truth and nothing
else. There's enough Of that to keep
them busy"
Mrs. Mae Taube, the latest booze
party witness to be interviewed. tells
a story on the whole favorable to
Arbuckle. She said:
These parties are held every day.
Then suddenly something comes and
hits you like an avalanche. am
very sorry for Mr.. Arbuckle-a fine
man and q hard worker.
Mr.. Fischbach. Mr.. Arbuckle, sew
eral others apd myself had an en-
gagement to dine together the day
of the party. When we entered Mr..
Arbuckles suite to get him the room
was full OF people. I didn't particu-
larly notice Miss Rape.
Warned Arbucltle.
"I told him: The hotel won't like
your giving this party. You arc an
actor with a lot of prominence and
popularity; yon can't afford this sort
II went down to the dining room.
Later Mr.. Fischbach hunted me nm
and said Roscoe wanted me. return.
ed TO find the people talking about
MISS Rape. 1 did not see her; they
said she was in the other room,
They told me she was under the in
fluence Of liquor and was tearing off
her clothes. Some one was banging
at the door Of the room opposite: later
she came out by another way and
came among us, looking very strange.
II was Mrs. belmont, clad In paja. |
mas.
AT dinner Roscoe mentioned the
affair to me. He only said the girl |
was Intoxicated. I am sure he had
no notion as to her being hurt.
Roscoe and danced together !
that evening. But II was not heart |
lessness. Nobody knew Virginia |
Rape was hurt"
Another defense witness win be |