Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1921-09-14
MANSLAUCHTER
INDICTMENT FOR
film COMEDIAN
Grand jury Votes Accusation,
But Prosecutor Says Murder
Charge VIII Be Pushed
WITNESSES REPUDIATE.
2 OF WORST CHARGES
Arbucl1le Defense Scores Heavily
In Hearing-kiiss Rappe
Suffering Six Weeks

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 1.-two
charges today Had been placed
against Roscoe Fatty" Arbuckle,
motion picture star, in connection
with the death of Miss Virginia
Rape, film actress. The grand jury
late last night voted an indictment
charging mahslaughter, but District
Attorney Brady declared prosecution
on the murder complaint already was
under way in justice court and would
not be halted. The Indictment was
made returnable next Thursday.
Two Of the blackest charges
against Arbuckle were repudiated in
testimony before the coroner's in
quest here Tuesday.
Mrs. Jean Jameson, nurse, whose
affidavit was the primary cause Of
the charge Of murder against Roscoe
Arbuckle, film comedian, in connec-
tion with the death of Mss Virginia
Rape, movie actress, late Tuesday
gave evidence before the coroner's
jury which attorneys for the actor
declare will insure his acquittal.
She testified that Miss Rappe told
her before she died that she did not
know whether she had been assaulted
or not, and that she had been suffer.
ing six weeks from an ailment for
which she blamed alleged relations
with cher sweetheart"
Together with this testimony, Mrs.
Bambino Maud belmont, another
Of the party, repudiated former state
ments that she had seen Arbuckle
drag the woman to his room, and that
Miss Rappe had told her that he rad
torn her clothes from her body.
AL Semnacher, manager for Miss
Rape, also gave testimony favor
able to Arbuckle
Suffering Weeks.
miss Rape told me that her re.
lations with sweetheart were re,
sponsible for the ailment from which
she had been suffering" Mrs. Jane,
son testified "She was very anxious
That the party and what had occur
red there be kept from Henry Lehr,
man, who, she said, would throw her
down if he found it out.
"She said that she had been suf-
fering for six weeks from internal
trouble. She frequently asked me,
what could have broken inside Of
me? She asked me several times 20
determine if she had been assaulted.
She said she was unconscious.
"My diagnosis when l first saw
her was that she was hystcrjcal
from a drunke nparty.
Mrs. Bambino Maud belmont, who
is the chief witness against Ar
buckle and who filed the complaint
charging him with the murder of the
young woman, who died following
wild party in the corpulent actors
hotel suite, also repudiated state
ments she is said to have made
In previous statements, Mrs Del
mont charged that Arbuckle drag.
ged Miss Rappe into his room, and
that the dying woman had told her
that Arbuckle had torn her clothes
from her body. Her testimony Tues
day did not bear out these charges.
Followed Her In Room.
Virginia went into the bathroom
and Roscoe followed her shortly af-
ter" she testified. "When they
came out, Virginia went into the bed
room. Roscoe followed her. The
door was locked
t'When they had been there about
Is minutes | called to Virginia sew
eral times | did not think it nice
Tor her to be in there alone with
Roscoe.
"There was no answer and got
angry and kicked the door with my
French heels as hard as | could
There wasn't any anwser.
''Then I got very angry and called
Mr.. Boyle, the hotel manager. When
he got there Roscoe opened the door.
"He stood there in his pajamas
which were wringing wet and cling
ing to him. He was wearing Vir-
ginia's hat.
eve all rushed in and saw Vir-
ginia lying on the bed tearing at
her. clothes and moaning that she was
dying.
eve tried to revive her. | gave
her a cold bath after she had been
taken to another room"
This testimony was so at variance
with affidavits made by Mrs. Del
mont previously, that Coroner T. w.
B. Leland cautioned her to "consid-
er her statements we'll"
Maybe l am leading you" he said
at one point. Sometimes people go
to sleep and just say,yes?'"
"Oh, Pm not asleep" Mrs, Del
mont replied. 1--WE Nd a little
hyperdermic before | came here and
l am all right"
She told of the "party" prior to
the tragedy, of the liquor that was
consumed, and the costumes of the
persons present.
Il borrowed a pair of pajamas
Continued on Page Two.)