The New York herald., 1921-09-24
SCHUMACHER Tells
OF ARBUCKLE PARTY
Man Reported to Have Said
Accused Made Admissions
Testifies at Hearing.
HIS MEMORY VAGUE
Comedian Grows Nervous
and Five Minute Re-
cess Is Taken.
SAW MISS RAPPE ON BED
Witness Says He Heard Her
Moaning and Saying She
Was Dying.

SAN FRANCISCO. Sept. 23.--The pre-
liminary hearing of Roscoe Fatty)
Arbuckle. charged with the murder OF
Virginia Rape. was resumed in Police
Court to-day.
Alfred Semnacher, the first witness,
went into the already known details
OF the party in Arbuckle's suite Of
rooms, following which Miss Rappe's
death occurred. Arbuckle, appearing
more cheerful than heretofore, entered
the courtroom with his wife and
mother-in-law.
Semnacher, reported to have told
the Grand Jury in Los Angeles OF ad-
missions he said Arbuckle had made.
named Arbuckle, Fred Fischbach. Low
ell Sherman, Ira Fortlouis, Miss
Rappe. Mrs. Bambino Maud belmont.
Miss Zeh Provost, Alice Blake and
Mrs. Mae Taube, and he thought one
or two others, as being present at the
party Arbuckle and Sherman were
dressed in pajamas and bathrobes ani
slippers, Semnacher said. The rest
were in street attire except Mrs. Del
mont, he continued.
All the party, except Mss. belmont,
he said, were eating. while some were
drinking liquor, which he defined as or
ange juice that could have contained
gin or anything else."
Semnacher testified that he' left the
room and on returning half an hour
later found a Miss Clark and a Miss
Campbell had joined the party. He
could not remember, he said, any one
having left the suite.
During this testimony, Arbuckle's
eyes moved slowly from the witness to
Isadore Golden. the assistant district at
torney, who conducted the questioning,
and back again.
Semnacher explained his omission of
Mrs. Taube's name at the inquest to the
fact that he did not know her name
until later when he saw newspaper
picture of Arbuckle leaning out of
hotel window IN company with Mrs.
Taube and others.
"Tbe liquor on the table at the party
came out of bottles" Semnacher testi-
fled. Some of the labels said whiskey.
others gin, and mineral water. and some.
unlabeiied, contained orange juice.
THE people were walking around the
room and Miss Blake and Miss Provost
danced together. and, believe. Arbuckle
and Sherman danced with the ladies'" he
added.
Pressed further, he said his memory
about Arbuckle was vague"
Before Semnacher's second departure
half an hour later, Fischbach also left
the room, Semnacher said.
Semnacher said he went out with Ira
Fortlouis returning about o'clock. find
ing the party still drinking, dancing and
enjoying phonograph music. Arbuckle
was present. according to Semnacher,
but he was not sure about Mrs. belmont
and Miss Rappe. He paid no attention
to further movement in the room and
soon left to buy cigarettes.
lie returned in about half an hour. he
said. The party was still in progress,
but about ten minutes later two OF the
women went into room 1919 (where
Miss Rappe later was found).
my best recollection is that on my
return the door to room 1919 was shu.,"
he testified.
The door closed behind the two women
and from two to ten minutes elapsc !
without a sound.
"ArbuclSle was in room 1890" Sem
nacher declared MY recollection is the
women came out OF room 1919 in excite
said we should all come in. as Miss
Eappe was ILL.,"
Arbucile during this bit of testimony
clasped and unclasped his hands and
rubbed his cheeks A five minute recess
was declared by the court, after which
the film comedian appeared more COM
posed.
u saw Miss Rappe lying on the bed.
moaning" Semnacher continued. "She
tossed from side to side. with her hands
clasped to her abdomen"
81 am dying. I am dying" she ex-
claimed, according to the witness. Miss
Rappe was unclothed. her garments
scattered about. All the men went back
into room 1920. We could see, through
the door, the girls putting Miss Rappe
into the bath tub" Arbuckle was still
In his pajamas. he stated.
Subsequently. he said. the entire party
had supper in the comedians rooms.
After which Arbuckle went downstairs
in evening clothes.
The torn garments he put in the
pocket OF his automobile, he said. for
exhibition to Miss Rape and also to
dust off his car.
At this point the hearing was adj
iourned for the day with Semnachers
testimony unfinished.