The Adair County news., 1921-12-06
FATTY ON STAND
IN OWN DEFENSE
ArbuckIe Denies He Invited Miss
Virginia Rappe to His
Room.
EXPLAINS USE OF ICE ON Girl
Film Comedian Says He Asked Girls
to Stop Virginia From Tearing
Her Clothes Off; Mrs. DEL
mont Put Ice on Girls Head.

San Francisco, Nov. 29.-ROScoe c,
ArbuckIe took the stand in his own
defense at the manSlaughter trial here
i'm the death of Miss Virginia Rappe,
He told of coming to San Francisco
from Los Angeles on September 3, and
told also of the guests who attended
the party given by him in the st.
Francis hotel. He said the only guest
he had invited was Mrs. Mary B.
Taube. He declared that shortly be-
fore the hour of an engagement he had
with Mrs. Taube he found Miss Rappe
in his room. She was on the floor and
seemed to be very i'll.
ArbuckIe at Ease.
Arbuckle was entirely at ease on
crOSS-eXaminatiOn.
His answer to the barrage of queS-
tiOns fired at him by Assistant District
Attorney Friedman were given with
out Il moments hesitation, and some
of them came sharp as the crack of
whip.
The crOSS-eXaminatiOn was confined
to narrow limits by reason of the
skilIful maneuverS in which his coun-
sci conducted the direct questioning.
No mention of any other parties
crept in. The state was forced to
cOnfine itself to an effort to shake the
comedians story by apparent contra
dictiOnS.
And this effort was not a success.
Not only did he hold to his story close
Iy. but questions designed to trap him
were cleverly evaded.
He might have been enacting a court
room film drama. so perfect was his
pOiSe.
Met Miss Rappe Six Years.
Il have known Virginia Rappe six
years." he said, answering the search
ing question fired at him by Fried
man.
"Fishback said he was going to
phone for Virginia, but the first I
knew she was coming was when she
knocked at the door. I was in 1919
when she came, but l went into 1920
almost Immediately.
Asked Girls to Aid.
81 then went out into 1920 and told
Miss PrevOn and later Mrs. belmont.
l asked the girls to stop her from tear
ing her clothes off. 1 went into room
1919 again later and saw Miss Rappe
on the bed nude. Mrs. belmont had
head I asked what the ice was do
ing there. Mrs. belmont said she
knew how to take care of Virginia.
81 told Mrs. belmont to shut up or
l would throw her out of the window.
Mrs. Taube then called Mr.. Boyle, the
hotel manager, and a room was ar
ranged for her.
Il put bathrObe on her and moved
to 1927. 1 took her down to 1927, but
she kept slipping, and 1 called Boyle
to help me with her.
"The door from 1919 to 1920 was
not locked. The window shade was
up.
81 never heard Virginia say he hurt
me- or anything that was ineligible" 4"
Denies Talk About Ice.
never ulu nave d ldlh WIFI al
SeEnacher about putting ice on Miss
Rappe's body" the comedian de-
clared.
He talked in a loud tone of voice,
and frequently arose to demonstrate
his testimony.
81 never placed my hand over hers
on door in 1919" he said in reply to
a question.
"No, never" he emphasized.
He then denied a conversation re-
lated by Peter Nargaard as a state
witness in which Nargaard declared
Arbuckle at Culver City studio had
offered him $50 for the key to a room
occupied by Miss Rappe three years
ago.
81 have told you everything that
occurred" said Arbuckle in his final
words on direct examination.
The cross examination was conduct
ed by Assistant District Attorney
Leo Friedman.