New-York tribune., 1921-09-23
Guest of Fatty, Found in
New York After Return
From Coast, Says Fine
Liquor Flowed Freely
Girl Hilarious, He Asserts
Declares He Didn't See
Comedian Touch Her and
Thought Illness Slight

loWeu nlmSeif TO be questioned about
the happenings at the st. Francis Hotel
during which Miss Virginia Rape, q
motion picture actress, complained OF
injuries from which she died. His
statement was sent to the San Fran.
cisco authorities last night
Sherman arrived from Chicago or
Wednesday on the Twentieth Century
Limited, but escaped Lustig and de-
tective, who were waiting for him at
the Grand Central Terminal, by getting
off at Harmon, N. Y, where he was
met by a woman in an automobile. He
appeared at the District Attorneys
office about Ii o'clock yesterday and
was closeted with District Attorney
Swami and his chief assistant, Joat
Banton, for some time.
Sherman's Statement
Parts Of the statement he made tc
them follows:
~ was a guest of Mr. Arbuckle on
the occasion in question in rooms 1919
20-21 at the st. Francis Hotel, San
Francisco, on Labor Day. There were
three rooms. Mr.. Arbuckle and Fred
erick Fishback occupied bedroom at
one end Of the suite and l had bed
room at the other end. There was a
living room between the two bedrooms
eve had breakfast about 1880 that
morning, and between noon and l
o'clock that afternoon guests began to
arrive until there were about a dozen
persons in the living room. Miss
Rape came with Mrs. Bambina Del
mont. Other women were there, too.
the three mentioned, Mr.. Semnacher
and Mr.. Fortlouis.
"The refreshments consisted of a
very fine quality of Scotch whisky and
an equally fine quality of gin. Every
one partook freely, and eventually
every one felt the influence of the
liquor. There was phonograph on
the table. 1t was played constantly,
first one person then another putting
on record"
Mr. Sherman then told of receiving a
telegram concerning his part in a new
production, and he said he spent lnost
of his time at the party sending tele-
grams and putting in long-distance
calls, trying to get in touch with differ
| ent persons, and thereby missing most
of the gayety.
Says Girl Was Hilarious
~ During I9,1ra the course Of this III business
Rappe n sttne eGntnusa ssfa IN N tbs saw mis- Miss
room. l had been introduced to her
when she came in, but had never seen
her, before that T noticed that she was
rather hilarious. The next time T saw
or heard of Miss Rappe was when !
came out of my room and Arbuckle said
that she was ILL., That Rappe girl is
sick. Those were his exact words.
Miss Rappe was then in Arbuckle's
room. Some of the guests were in
5!ls: Inere with her and some were in the
living room. looked in the door and
saw Miss Rape lying on one Of the
twin beds. She was tearing off her
clothes and clutching at her stomach
and groaning as if in pain.
Il did not hear her scream. She lust
mumbled and groaned. None of her
words were distinct. Realizing that she
nad been drinking, I said. 4 guess that
little girl has bun on and has indiges-
tlon.' Then went to the living room
Tor a moment. The next thing / saw
was some of the ladies and Mr.. Fish
bach taking off her clothes and putting
her in cold tub.
1T was about this time that Arbuckle
sent for the house physician and the
assistant manager of the hotel. Ar
! buckle engaged room for Miss Rappe
around the hall, and carried her part of
the way to it. The assistant manager
carried her the rest of the way.
We all sort of walked round to see
inns room that had been engaged for
her and left. That is the last l ever
saw of Miss Rappe."
Heard No Word From Her
Mr.. Sherman said he did not hear
MISS Rappe make any statement or
utter word from the time he first saw
her on the bed in Arbuckle's room until
she was put to bed in the room that was
engaged for her. The house physician
was with her during the latter part of
the time.
When l got back to my room," said
Mr.. Sherman, ~ said, it's too bad about
that girl getting sick, ana Roscoe said,
We'll, listen here, this party is going
to be little rough and we'd better see
what we can do He said to me. you
tell them that the reporters are coming
up to see me and that they had better
get out did so, and eventually every
one left. That was the last l ever saw
of them.
"Arbuckle never told me how the
.'."'oSA OSSuI1cQ, JGCduSC never asked
him. The party got on my nerves and
was very bored. l had this other
thing on my mind and I didn't pay
much attention to what was going on.
NO one at that time expressed an
oplnlon as to what was the matter with
the girl. Some of the girls wondered
what had happened to her, but it was
generally accepted that she had little
pun ON and was ill.
u had no opinion on what happened
between Arbuckle and Miss Rappe. /
knew he had known the girl for four
or i've years, and I did not know but
what he went in the room to talk with
her privately, or what. I did not sus
pect anything wrong"
Mr. sherman said that he did not
see Arbuckle put his arms around Miss
Kappe before she went into the he'd
room, or put his hands on her. He
SAID Arbuckle was sitting on a chair
next the sofa on. which Miss Rappe
sat. He had a drink in his hands and
was laughing and talking.
Didn't Think It Serious
II did not then or at any other time
near Mrs. belmont express anv opinion
as 20 what was the matter with thn
fri. She did not seem at all inset at
the time about anything that had han
pened to Miss Rappe.
"Arbuckle and | went back tn ros
Angeles the following afternoon.
never inquired about Miss Ranne after
Il