Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-11-29
ARDUCKLE TELLS OF
MISS RAPPE'S DEATH
Denies He injured Her, in Tes-
thying Before Jury Trying
Him for Manslaughter.

San Francisco, Nov 2o.---Roscoe Ar
hucklc testified I'm his defense yester-
day with every evidence OF gratifica-
iion that at last he was able 10 re-
count the happenings In his rooms In
the St. Francis Hotel. September D.
which were followed by the death OF
Miss Virginia Happe ana his indict-
ncnt for manslaughtor.
NrhucSlc spoke in deep. clear
voice. lie often leaned on his hand.
gently pol>lng forehnger against his
check. and making sudden shiftings-
in his chair, manncrisms which he
often exhibited IN his screen comedies.
Ills story skctchcd the gathering in
his room "a entirely without his inten-
tion or invitation. The guests. most
uf whom he never before had seen,
hogan e. arrive when he was sitting
AZ breakfast he said, clad in bath
robe ana undorclothes. Tte only per-
son whom he expected. he asserted.
was Mrs May Taube with whom he
had an appointment TO so riding. he
said
when Mrs. Taubc did arrive. Ar
buckle said. there were several women
aud men In tho rooms. the phonograph
,was going, all had been. or were. dane
ine, and Scotch whiskey. gin and other
drinks. provided by Al Fishback, his
roommate. were set out on a table NJ
which the guests had been helping
themselves. lie took highballs. he
said
Mrs. Taubc was distinctly "peevcd'
on discovery of this company said
Arhucllc. and asked him who "all
% Col h..
pllcd. You can search mc--I never
Jaw half OF them before" Mrs. Tauby
departed. arranging 90 return later to
go for the ride. as agreed.
Arbuci,lc gave the impression that
he had accepted the situation. thrus,
upon him by the flood of unlimited
guests. largely because of sense OF
duty a. host and that some of the
proceedings did not appeal 20 him
,lu said he had asked Lowell sherman
the actor To- request Ira Fortlouis. q
salesman, TO leave.
Whom the time Tor Mrs. Taubc tC
rcturn grew near. he said, he went
go his room, clos, 4 tha door and locked
10 TO keep the others out" and was
unaware that Miss l,appc had been in
hls room untu he tried 10 open tn,
door uf the connecting bathroom and
found the door blocked by her body
Shc was ON tho foor, 81. evidently
from drinking hr said. He asserted
Dee gave her glass ~ water. an,
when she asked 90 lic down ne hclpe,
her ga his bed.
tie dcscrihcd tho girls increasing
pain and hystcria and said he sum
moncd Harry Doyle. assistant man
aEcr of the hotel when he returne,
he found Mrs. Maudc belmont among
others about Miss Bappe. Mrs. Del
mont told tho story on which Ar
buckle was charged at first with mur
der. she has been eliminated from Civ
inE evidence az the trial by consen
uf both sides.
Mrs, belmont. said Arbuckle. tol,
him 10 get out of the room. He re
piled that ~ she did not get out OF IN,
room he would throw her out OF tn,
window"
Ills story presented himself as an
noycd by the illness of Miss Rappe
iho unc riain state OF his guests an,
their conduct and the prospect f,Nirs
Tauho returning In the midst of tha
situation.
lie said he sought 10 obtain anothe
room and Attendance for Mss Rapp,
and denied that Miss Rappe had sal
30 him or OF him in his herring tina
, he had hurt hcr.
Arbucklo described finding Mis-
bappc In the bathroom evidently sui
fcring kcenly and OF picking her u
and holdlnS her head, eventually pu
TINS her on his bed.
Later he continued" / asked her
'la there anything ! can do FOR you
she said. No. just let me lie on n
bod. Before this had given her Nv
Elassos uf water"
How did she get from the bath
room Go tho hod?"
she walked. ! helped her a little
later Arbuckle returned 10 n
bathroom. lie testified nc found Mi
liappc "thrashing about" on N
npur Tho witness said he picked n,
W and placed her ON the bed. demon
Hirnting the manner in which he a
go. She was groaning. holding h,
stomach and twisting about. he said
Then ! went out OF the room. III
FIRST person ] saw was Miss Prevos
soidi Nireinin Is sick" Miss Pr,
Nosi was. close to the door when
went out.
When ! returned. Virginia va
tvnrlnr az hcr clothes. one sleeve ,
her dress was hanging bysa fe
---------------------