New-York tribune., 1921-09-29
Arbuckle Freed
On Bail; Murder
.ChargeDropped
Police Judge Rules That
Death of Rappe Girl In
wolves Comedian Only to
Extent of Manslaughter
Women Congratulate Him
His Wife Collapses as His
Mother-in-Law Snoothes
Back the Comedians Hair

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. %. The
murder complaint against Roscoe c.
("Fatty'') Arbuckle was reduced to
manslaughter to-day by Police Judge
Sylvan j. Lazarus, who held the come.
dian to answer to the Superior Court
for trial on the lesser charge growing
out of the death of Miss Virginia
Rappe following a party in Arbuckle's
hotel suite here.
Judge Lazarus held that evidence in
troduced during the six-day hearing
pdid not warrant holding Arbuckle for
murder.
Miss Rape, Los Angeles motion
picture actress, died on September 9,
four days after the affair in Arbuckle's
rooms.
Arbuckle heard the decision without
| movement or comment
District Attorney Matthew Brady
moved that Arbuckle be released on
his own recognizance in view of the
bail Of $4,000 cash or $4,000 bonds
fixed in the Superior Court charge of
manslaughter, growing out of a grand
jury Indictment. This was done a
short time later, and Arbuckle walked
out of prison. a.
While formalities Of bail were being
arranged Arbuckle went back to tho
city prison where he had passed the
last eighteen days.
Other ArbuckIe Does That
flowing armful of clothing, his face
took on more cheerful look. After
he had piled the clothes into a suit
case newspaper photographers started
to take pictures, of him, and a smile
began to creep over his countenance.
AS balloon-like cloud of f1ashlight
smoke rose toward the ceiling he gazed
at it with almost grin.
Roll cigarette with one hand when
we take the next snap" suggested one
of the photographers.
II can't" he replied. "It's the other
Arbuckle that does that"
AS court adjourned dozen women
rushed forward to shake Arbuckle's
chambers his wife, Mrs. Minta Durfee
Arbuckle, collapsed, and he held her
up and quieted her in an affectionate
manner. Her mother, Mrs Flora
Durfee, smootfed the hair back from
her son-inlaw's forehead
The Arbuckle smile did not aupear,
however, and he merely said Thank
you" in response to the handshakes and
greetings of "congra tulations, Roscoe"
from various people.
Case Is Analysed
Assistant District Attorneys Milton
T. U'Ren and Isadore Golden asked
Judge Lazarus if he placed no credence
OH Miss Rappes cries, "he hurt me-"
or the screams heard by the hotel maid,
but the court said they "were not suffi-
cient to implcate Arbuckle in the COM
mission Of crime" The District Al
torney's assistants also contended that
the court only could hold the defendant
case altogether. Judge Lazarus said
that was not his understanding of law.
When the hearing was resumed to-
day the court discussed the case.
1--WE need not disguise the fact that
this is an important case" he said
I"In my opinion we are not trying Ros-
coe Arbuckle alone, the screen celebrity
who has given mirth to the whole
world. We are, in sense, trying our
selves, our morals, our present day
social standards. The question is larger
tnan the guilt OF tnls unfortunate. IL
is universal issue.
"The affair was the elimination of
an orgy at one of our leading hostel
ries. An orgy unrepressed by the man
agement is, take it, common thing
in our big cities.
81 had really hoped that this court
would be the avenue for full and com
plete revelation of all the facts. so the
public of the entire world would have
the opportunity to ascertain this widely
known defendants guilt or innocence.
Hotel Festivities"
"The testimony shows that during
the whole afternoon there went on, let
US charitably say, festivities. Men and
women were passing in and going out,
so that witnesses are unable to say who
(csstInusd on pass fsura