The New York herald., 1921-09-27
ARBUCKLE COUNSEL
CHARGES BLACKMAIL
Dead Girls Clothing Used in
Plot to Get Cash From
Actor, He Says.

SAN Francisco. Sept. 26.--An asser-
ton in court to-day by Roscoe c. (Fatty)
Arbuckle's counsel. Frank Dominguez.
that he believed blackmail had been con-
templated against the film comedian
and that this motive figured In the de-
fendants arrest on a murder charge
was ordered put before the Grand Jury
tonight by District Attorney Matthew
A. Brady
Brady issued subpoenas for Dominguez
and his associate counsel, Charles H.
Brennan of San Francisco, and Milton
M. Cohen of Log Angeles. to appear at
to-night's Grand Jury session and repeat
their charges.
The action was taken, Drady said. on
the request of Alfred .Semnacher. who
was accused by Dominguez to-day of
having conspired with Mrs. Bambina Del
mont. the complaining witness against
Arbuckle. to take torn parts or the cloth
ing OF Miss Virginia Rappe to Loss An
geles for the purpose. Dominguez said.
of extorting money from the defendant,
who Is charged with the murder of Miss
Rappe.
Dominguez made his assertion after
long questioning Of Semnacher regarding
his previous testimony in the case.
Police Judge Lazarus. before whom
the hearing Is being held. refused. how
ever, to allow Dominguez to question
Semnacher along this line. saving it had
no part In the present proceedings.
Semnacher denied tonight before the
Grand Jury that he had conspired in
any way to extort money from the
defendant, and the jury adjourned
without taking any action.
Semnacher's testimony took up most
of the afternoon sessi1 IN. In the morning
DR.. Arthur Beardslee. who treated Miss
Rape after the revel in Arbuckle's
hotel suite, testified he discovered evil
dence of a ruptured bladder early the
morning after the party ard that he
advised her removal to a hospital.
The defence was unable to make him
admit she could have been suffering
from anything else. DR.. Beardslee re-
iterated his diagnosis and said he found
her writhing in pain SO great he had to
administer sedatives three times.
Replying to hypothetical question
regarding the cause of a torn bladder. he
said an injury such as that described
would have been caused by an external
force such as q fall or blow. although
contortions incident to violent vomiting
might have produced that effect.
Evidences of alcoholism were over
shadowed by Miss Rappe's suffering
from the rupture, DR.. Beardslee said. He
testified that Mrs belmont, who at
tended the injured girl. showed no signs
of being under the influence OF alcohol
or drugs.
The defence pursued its questioning
of Semnacher with great vigor. causing
him to announce that he must have been
misqnoted IL he had said he was Miss
Rappes manager. His acquaintance
with both her and Mrs. belmont was
more or less casual until just before
their trip to San Francisco. where they
attended Arbuckle's party. he said.
Domingues questioned the witness
closely about purse he produced from
his pocket. saying It was Miss Rappe's.
and asking what connection he had with
it. Semnacher replied that after the
party Miss Rappe asked him to look for
1t. and that on asking Arbuckle about
IL next day Arbuckle produced 1t from
n desk. Semnacher said he then took
1t to Miss Rappe in the room where she
lay i'll.
Asked about Mrs. Delmont's condition
Mt the party. Semnacher testified she
was dressed In yellow pajamas and APP
peared "lit up" or about half drunk
when he first saw her.