The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-11-25
DRAWS TO CLOSE
Defense in ArbuckIe Case May
Rest on Saturday.
State Expected to Follow With
Some Rebuttal witnesses.
MAY GET VERDICT ON TUESDAY
Surprise Witness To Go on
Stand for Defense.
Film Comedian Prepares to
Speak for Himself.
MAY GET VERDICT ON TUESDAY

that Roscoe Fatty" Arbuckle might
| be called to the stand to testify in his
own behalf at his trial for manslaugh-
ter, the largest crowd that has yet
sought admission to Judge Louder
backs court room today choked the
corridors and filled the hall of jus
tice entrances. "Only seating capac-
4 ity'' was permitted to enter but the
others remained, hopeful that their
chance might come to enter the
court room.
A new medical expert was called as
! the first defense witness today. DR..
Lloyd Bryan took the stand and quail
fled to give expert testimony on rup-
ture of the bladder-the predisposing
cause of Virginia Rappe's death. He
i stated he had treated four such cases.
One of these he stated was a case of
spontaneous rupture. He described
! the case in full. His examination and
oss-eXamination were brief. DR..
! George F. Shields, San Francisco
physician, followed him on the stand.
Arbuckle's own story was expected
to include a complete and vigorous de-
nial that he injured Miss Rape at
party in his rooms in the Hotel ST.
Francis here September 5, and prob
ably will conclude the testimony.
May Rest Saturday.
Unless there are unexpected delays,
the defense will rest its case Saturday
morning. The one feature that may
prolong it is the grilling cross exami-
nation to which the obese screen star
will be subjected if he takes the stand.
Despite the anxiety of Arbuckle to go
on the stand, it is not at all certain he
will mount the witness chair. Gavin
McNab. his chief counsel. who has the
final say, had not definitely decided
and will not make the decision until
he reaches that point in the case.
The feature of today's proceedings
was expected to be the appearance of
a number of more or less prominent
stars from the Hollywood movie col
ony. The defense denied that Alice
Lake was to head this contingent, al |
I tho she was reported in San Francisco
I today. Contrary to belief these will
not be character witnesses. 1t Is un-
! derstood a number of Los Angeles |
screen stars volunteered for this duty, |
but it was learned today that the de-
fense has no intention of calling on
the movie colony for this purpose.
New Surprise Expected.
Today the defense will spring a
surprise witness in the person of Miss
Irene Morgan, q Los Angeles nurse, |
who lived with Virginia Rape as
companion for seven years. Her teSt1- !
mony will combat that of Mrs. Kate
Hardeback. "aunt'' of the dead film
star, who testified Miss Rappe was in
perfect health during the period she
knew her Miss Morgan will testify, |
it is understood, that Miss Rape suf-
fered a chronic bladder ailment and
had been warned against partaking of
alcoholic drinks for that reason. She
and members of the film colony from
Los Angeles will testify it is expected,
that Miss Rape on other occasions
tore her clothing following drinking
of n-Volsteadian liquors.
Dispositions of a Chicago nurse and
a Chicago doctor remain to be intro
duced. There may be a little more
deal-the defense does not desire to
weary the jury with repetition with
matter already in evidence.
ArbucI1Ie Prepares to Testify.
Arbuckle failed to qualify as a tur-
key cook Thanksgiving as he had
planned. Instead, he spent the day
largely with his attorneys. Remain
ing witnesses were checked up.
Arbuckle made final preparations
for taking the stand if called. His
story on the stand as already forecast
will be an absolute denial of any i'm
proper relations with Virginia Rappe
He will assert that when he entered
room 1919 it was for the purpose of
changing his clothes to keep an en-
gagement and without knowledge that
further declare that he found her in
state of excruciating nausea induced
by the drinks she had taken. He is
expected to say also that Miss Rappe
fell from the bed on which she was
lying in one of her paroxysTns.
If the defense completes its case
Saturday morning as now planned,
verdict is expected by Tuesday night.
State Plans Rebuttal.
The state will call some rebuttal
witnesses - probably occupying Mon
day mornings session for the pur-
pose. This would lay the way open
for argumen to begin to the jury
Monday afternoon-providing there is
no agreement to submit the case with
bility. Both sides will undoubtedly
offer voluminous requested instruc-
tions to Judge LouderbacR who will
have to take time for their considera-
ton before charging the jury. This
viii slightly delay completion of the
case-possibly not reaching the jury
until late Tuesday. Most observers
who have followed the case from the
start anticipate a fairly quick verdict.
Arbuckle is scheduled to appear be-
fore Federal Commissioner Hayden
this afternoon to answer to a charge
of violating the prohibition act. The
case will go over a week. but several
witnesses now in attendance at the
Inanslaughter trial will be place un-
der subpoena