The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-09-15
WILL FREE FATTY
BY SATURDAY
DEFENSE CLAIM
Declare Trial Will Be on the
Lesser Charge.
Claim Fourteen Guests at Party
Back Arbuckle.
BOOZE PROBE NOW STARTED
Federal Government Wants to
Know About "Party."
Authorities Also Probe Alleged
Witness Intimidation.
BOOZE PROBE NOW STARTED

San Francisco, Sept. ia county
grand jury indictment, charging Ros-
coe c. Arbuckle with manslaughter
in connection with the death of Miss
Virginia Rappe, motion picture act
ress. after she had attended a party
in his rooms in the St. Francis hotel,
was returned to Presiding Judge
Shortall, of the superior court, today.
The indictment was voted on the
early morning of September II. Bail
was set at $1,000 or $4,000 bonds and
the case assigned to the court of Su-
perior Judge Harold Louderback in
the hall of justice.
San Francisco. Sept 15-'Fatty''
will be home again in Los Angeles
Sunday night
They'll have to dismiss the murder
charge against him and release lin
on bail"
With that prediction as a preface.
Attorneys Frank Dominquez and Mil
ton Cohen, representing Roscoe Ar
buckle, today gave this correspondent
their first detailed interview concern
ing Arbuckle's case.
In summing up the case from all
angles, Dominguez and Cohen made
the startling announcement that at
least fourteen witnesses-all of whom
visited Arbuckle's suite at the st
Francis hotel during the wild party
that was followed by the death of Vir-
ginia Rappe-are ready to testify for
the defense when ArbuckIe goes to
trial.
Arrange Rappe Funeral.
Arrangements are being completed
today for the funeral of Miss Virginia
Rappe, motion picture actress, whose
death in sanitarium last Friday re-
suited in four charges against Roscoe
Arbuckle, two of murder and two of
manslaughter
Herman Jaurag. motion picture di-
rector of Los Angeles. is expected to
arrive today and take charge of the
body for forwarding to Hollywood,
Miss Rappe's home. Jaurag is acting
at the request of Henry Lehrman,
fiance of Miss Rape.
Make Effort to Get Bail.
Formal return of the Indictment
was expected to mark the opening of
a determined effort on the part of
the defense to obtain the release of
the famous film comedian on bail.
Judge Shortall was expected to set
the amount of bail and reports were
current that the defense had prepared
lOr any contingency by having avail
able a bail fund of 100000.
Intimately connected with the plans
of the defense for obtaining Arbuckle's
release was the attitude of District
J Attorney Matthew Brady on the mat
ter of the still pending charge of muir
der against Arbuckle. He as yet has
given no indication whether he will
press it or prosecute on the man
slaughter indictment.
| Coroncrs verdict Is Influence.
! Action of the coroner's jury late
yesterday, however, in returning a
verdict holding Arbuckle responsible
for the injuries that caused Miss
Rappe's death and charging him with
manslaughter, was expected to influ-
ence the district attorney in favor of
the latter charge.
Miss Alice Blake and Miss Zeh Pre-
| vost. important witnesses, have been
placed in seclusion under police sur
veillance and steps taken to safeguard
other witnesses in the case from out
side interference, 1t was announced
There was conjecture today as to
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