Evening star., 1921-09-17
Film CLOWN FACES
court AGAIN TODAY
MansIaughter Charge For
maIity, as ArbuckIe Will
Be Tried for Murder.
BY the Associated Press.


SAN FRANCISCO, September IL
Comedian Roscoe Arbuckle was cast
today for a new court scene in the
tragedy of Virginia Rape, motion
picture actress, who died, according
to accusers of Arbuckle, following a
drinking orgy in the actors apart
ment in a San Francisco hotel and as
result of mistreatment by her host.
Today Arbuckle was to be ar
raigned in superior court upon an
indictment charging manslaughter,
returned by the county grand jury.
but this arraignment is mere formal
ity. is was said. and District Attorney
Matthew Brady was scheduled to ask
a continuance of the manslaughter
the charge of first degree murder
pending against Arbuckle in connec-
tion with Miss Rappe's death.
The district attorney had announc-
ed the murder charge will be pushed
and it will be left to a jury to de-
eide whether Arbuckle shall be con-
victed of first degree murder. sec
ond degree murder, manslaughter, or
turned free by acquittal. There was
also one other alternative, which was
that if the police court at the prellm :
mary examination of Arbuckle failed
to hold the comedian to answer to the
superior court on charge of murder,
the state then would be forced to go
to- trial with the manslaughter in
dictment. Acquittal or conviction on
the murder charge would mean auto
matte dismissal of the manslaughter
charge, for the law holds man may
not be twice placed in jeopardy for
one cause.
Crowds Fight for Place.
Crowds long before court opened
today attempted again to gain places
of vantage about the courtroom of
Superior Judge Harold Louderback.
where Arbuckle was to be arraigned.
that they might view the film star.
Arbuckle in all his court appearances
since his arrest has shown disinclina-
ton to face these curious folk.
Scores of letters and kilograms con-
tinue to arrive at the Jail for Ar
buckle and in such number he can
not answer them, it was said.
Pressing of the murder charge
i, means Arbuckle must remain in Jail
for some time to come. Dismissal of
the murder charge and trial on the
manslaughter Indictment would have
meant quick liberty on bail for the
accused actor.
Bail on the manslaughter charge
had been fixed at $4,000. and attor-
neys for Arbuckle had put up the
cash in anticipation of action by the
district attorney favoring trial on
to be free on this today to start for
his home in Los Angeles.
Seek DR.. Beardslee.
new development was the an
nouncement that DIR. Arthur BeardSlee,
house physician at the st. Francis and
the physician who first attended Miss
Rape. is being sought by the authori-
trIct attorney, announced late today
that. he had not been located, and
asked the newspapers to assist in the
search. DR.. Beardslee is wanted for the
purpose Of giving testimony before
the grand jury regarding certain
phases of the medical attention given
Miss Rape, U'Ren said.
The finance committee of the board
OF supervisors told Brady that he
the prosecution of the Arbuckle case,
and that more money would be sup
piled him as he needed it.
We will be under great expense"
reputed to be wealthy. and there will
be great deal of money spent in de-
Tending him. If we do not get suf-
ficient funds we. may meet with dis
aSter.
The country grand jury, at its meet
Ing Monday night, is to consider evil
dence that certain witnesses were
tampered with. Harry NJ. Kelly. Sec
retary of the jury, announced today
The jury also expects to clear up
doubtful points in the medical atten-
tion given Miss Rappe," Kelly said
The testimony of the doctors who at
tended her may be heard"
The witness-tampering investigation
nf 10 10 " 70 IYpv.a
of Miss Zeh Provost, one of the prin-
cipal witnesses against Arbuckle, to
tell to the jury the alleged facts that
she detailed to the police and the dis
trict attorney. AS result of her
failure to testify. the jury was COM
PEELED to postpone for twenty -four
hours a decision to indict Arbuckle.
the district attorney said. A man
slaughter indictment was returned
against him.