The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1921-10-04
The Arbuckle Case
Chicago Trlbuncl

An odd aud interesting change "i
public opinion ia indicated ~ san
l'rnncisco. aud perhaps throughout
the country, in connection WIN IN"
dismissal Of the murder chhid" o
ngninst Fatty" Arbuckle and ms re-
lease on bell on the m~ansinuEh'er
charge. There seems 20 have n'vn
more approval than d~iaaprroNai o.
the maEist rate'h refusal to hold TIE
,nd comedian on the more serious
charge preferred against him Ia tne
heat OF the first outburst OF puhi'o
Indignation.
Il IL GOOD to believe that TINS m
dlrates an American spirit OF lair
play: that public opinion as Won a.
me cold reasoning ~ the court pre-
fers TO zee the defendant tried Tor
what he did rather than for the ciect
Of what he did ou the public nina.
IL b. good 20 believe that We prefer
to determine and punish quit, fnthvr
than To wrenk vengeance ui an Out
ragged public.
The first sordid stories ot ~"
drunken Orgy out uf which grew D.
| cas- against Arbuckle produced an
immediate reaction akin to mon
frenzy throughout the country fhr
sensational charges Of A~rbucklcH nr-
snclntes aroused Instant indignant
demand Tor punishment This rr"h-
ably was due In part to the feeling
OF the public that IL had been de-
ceived. one of It's film favorites had
proved himself grossly unworthy ui
the ndulatlon and money showurct
upon him. To rtcovcr and maintain
nolf-respcct nouicd public dee
handed revenge
women's clubs OF san Francisco
led the demand Women crowded
the courtroom TO cuforcv this scntl-
mcnt In the name ot justice. They
remained to near salucinuH tcHtimVuF,
thereby Weakening their high mutul
position. hut nevertheless btiuE conc
Nnccd that while an atrociQur thing
had occurred 1t might not have been
murder, The mob spirit cooled tn"
spirit OF fair play developed.
Whereas the original demand was
Tor immediate drastic punishment ~
the offender % Justify the temper OF
the mob, q has now become a de-
muud tor punishment In conformity
TO the oifcnac. with tho orUnso de-
tsrminrd calmly hy due process uf
law. That is au encouraging Develop
nent
Sentiment ran be vicious a. well ns
pathetic. ~ Virginia HHppr had
broken A~rbuckie's head with a gin
FHhNAN hAHNH "NfA NfH fH 'N
burst OF sUntimentulity which prob
ably would have acquitted her In
this case there was an outnurst uf
Indignation which threatened fur %
time 10 rush Arhuck;r to the EilluWH
Tho one is as dangerous ua the Uthur.
The cuso ought 10 Doe Httr,d ou it-
merits without regard Co anything
else
Tho court has decided that .t Boz not
murder. a jury Will dpgid, whether
10 d. granddaughter. So much flr tho
more serious criminal aspects o.
there are other aaprgts left for de-
oi-iun they also can uc settled uu
THEN merits Violation uf the NuI-
stead act disturbing the pence. and
similar incidents of the Orgy would
como bee this rItoEuu They should
not D." overlooked, but they Huu.Id
not uuduiy lnflu,u,, tho case Moral
shock and indignation Hr. natural
and well founded boo. tH,g ,Iur
justly send o. man fu 90, giIIu.
Appreciation uf this fl.t Boz fl, .m-
p]ortaHt development boo th.. .isr
a Yorkshire. Inns HNot,r. 4 rt.l
tu haN" stored away 80 1000 Items NJ
general Information