Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1921-09-15
MURDER CHARGE
AGAINST ACTOR
Formal Accusation of ArbuckIe
Made by Friend of Dead
Actress.
FATTY REFUSES TO TALK
Case Is Postponed Until Friday and
Accused Is Taken Back to His
cell-Prisoner Appears Greatly
Detected During Proceedings.

San Francisco, Sept 13.-A formal
complaint charging murder was sworn
to before Police Judge Daniel O'Brien
against ROSCOE G. (Fatty) Arbuckle,
in connection with the death of Miss
Virginia Rape, motion picture
actress. The complaint was signed by
Mrs. Bambina Maude belmont, a
friend of the dead actress.
1t was the second murder complaint
against Arbuckle, the first having been
made Saturday night by the investi-
eating detective for the purpose of
holding him until the formal charge
could be filed.
Mrs. belmont, in signed and sworn
statements, gave the police many de-
tails of the party in Arbuckle's rooms
in the st. Francis hotel here a week
ago, at which time Miss Rape was
subjected to an alleged attack by Ar
buckle. She died four days later.
Mrs. belmont attended the party
and assisted Miss Rappe after the al
legged attack. She appeared personally
in court to swear to the complaint.
Arbuckle was not in court when the
complaint was filed.
Prisoner Appears in Court.
Arbuckle appeared in court to be ar
raigned on the charge sworn to by
Mrs. belmont. AT the request of the
district attorney the case was con-
tinued until Friday morning and Ar
%A oil
Arbuckle consented later to see a
group of newspaper men, but refused
to discuss the Rape case with them.
He appeared detected, but said he
was receiving good treatment in the
jail.
District Attorney Brady, through
Deputy Milton T. U'ren, said:
1--WE have complete case against
Arbuckle."
Arbuckle's appearance in police
court was delayed until his Bertillon
measurements could be taken and he
could be photographed for the rogues'
gallery.
The Bertillons showed that his
weight is 266 pounds and his height
feet S3s inches. He gave his birth
place as Kansas and his age at thirty
four.
Is Greatly Detected.
The arraignment was conducted in
haze of fiashlight smoke, the flash
lights popping with machine-gun regu-
larity.
The arrival of Arbuckle in court
was so long delayed that Judge
O'Brien adjourned the session and
said he would wait five minutes until
the prisoner could be produced. Ar
buckle appeared through side door
within the five minutes, f1anked by his
attorneys and the police guard. He
appeared greatly detected and heaved
many signs.
Following the court session and he
fore he was taken back to his cell he
was given an opportunity to go into
the judges chambers to make and
smoke cigarette while the arraign-
ment papers were being made out.
The little courtroom was packed
lHe Spectators TlSlIiS III lIitlI CIIdiIS
when Arbuckle appeared and remain
ing in that position during the brief
session. There were few women pres
ent.
Arbuckle told newspaper men in
court that he was born in Smith Cen
ter, Kan.
Says Arbuckle Innocent.
San Francisco, Sept. 13.-A plea
that the public at large, and followers
of Roscoe (Fatty) Arbuckle in par
ticular withhold judgment in his case
was made in the first public state
ment issued in his behalf by his conn
sci. The statement signed by Frank
e. Dominguez, Charles III. Brennan
and Wilton NJ. Cohen says:
"As the legal representatives and
the friends Of Roscoe (Fatty) Ar
buckle, we respectfully submit that
the courts Of California, famous for
fair play and justice, will determine
that our client is innocent. We, with
the complete knowledge Of all the
facts. know that he is innocent"