The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-11-26
ARBUCKLE HOPE
BRIGHTENS AS
TRIAL GOES ON
Defense Is JubiIanf at
Opening of Court
Today.

AooAl II cA4AioNOs NJdlil- NOV. 20
UNITED Press. 1.-The scales of jus
tice today were definitely swinging
i to the favor of Roscoe ArbuckIe,
rotund movie comedian charged
! with having taken the life of Vir-
J ginia Rape, movie beauty
The defense was jubilant as court
opened today 1t promised to of
fer testimony which would make
the proceedings sparkle with
stories of gay life parties. They
were to be woven about one pivo-
tai point-a claim that Virginia
Rappe was subject to hysteria.
which caused her to disrobe or tear
her clothing not once but scores of
times.
Virginia Always HySterical.
Harry B. Barker of Gary, Ind.
and San Francisco, anl"old flame
of the movie beauty when she was
girl of some Is years living in
Chicago. was expected to be re-
called at the opening of the session
today He was to continue his ac-
count of half a dozen instances
where, in his presence, Miss Rappe
became hysterical and acted as she
was alleged to have done at Ar
buckles pajama party:
The defense contemplated intro
ducing this evidence to build Up a
claim that when Miss Rappe in
dulged in only small quantities of
liquor and ofttimes when she did
not drink at all, she was likely to
engage in most irrational acts as
r.-h s-Nn
started almost in childhood.
Defense Witnesses Numerous.
A closely guarded galaxy of
pretty girls and men was on hand
N tho witness room ready to be
called to the stand. They are folks
from the movie studios who knew
Miss Rappe and their evidence will
be a recital of Miss Rappe's habits
and her alleged afflictiOn, and
character statements of Arbuckle.
An extra squad of six-foot po-
lice from South of the Slot" whose
business it is to handle the
'toughs" of San Francisco's famed
South of the Market" district, has
been called to assist the regular
hall of tusrfre police in handling
the huge crowds that storm the
doors daily.
More than half of those who ap-
ply for little blue cards which en-
title the bearer to see Arbuckle
On trial and hear the latest model
1921 scandal are women.
Trial Is SeriO-COmic.
The trial thus far has proven
a strange mixture of comedy, ira
gedy and technical detail.
Just as the action starts and the
fireworks are ready to blaze, II
walks bespecta cled physician and
lectures to the court for hours on
anatomy.
Then suddenly the director trots
out a new character who may pa
rade a word picture of vision in
pink and white silk ''undieS" dan
cling merrily across a bedroom; d
Convivial party who had occasion
to observe the details in the gar
ters some one wore; or a recital
of how Fatty Arbuckle could kid
the hired help.
1Fatty- is Good Actor.
Then interest quickens. The
maids and matrons, and the old
men and young cup their ears for
ward, anxious not to miss a single
word; the bailiff calls for order
and out goes some unruly specta-
tor
Roscoe Arbuchle's duty seems to
be wearing a blue norfolk suit and
a grave look aud always keeping
a Red Cross button in his coat la
pei. Years of training before the
movie camera has fitted him for his
role in the drama. He sits, big
bulky figure, changing expression
only now and then, looking wit
ness square in tho face.
Once in a while ne SMILES a
little boyish smIle-or turns to his
wife. two rows behind him in the
courtroom and mods to her.
Like a good actor, he plays his
part we'll.
VVnMEN GODS IN u