Evening star., 1921-09-27
ARbUCKLE IS AGAIN
CENTER OF INTEREST
Extortion Charge Against
Semnacher Disposed of as
Hearing Continues.
BY the Associa ted press


SAN FRANCISCO, Calf, Septembes
I27--Roscoe (Fatty) Arbuckle, charged
| with the murder of Virginia Rappe
and who was shifted temporarily from
the center of interest yesterday when
] charges of extortion. were made in
court against Alfred Semnacher, prose
cution witness. resumed his place be-
fore the spotlight of public curiosity
as his preliminary hearing proceeded
today.
The extortion charge has been dis
posed of. it was intimated today by
action of San Francisco grand jury.
which last night heard Semnacher's
1 story and PLACED it on record" Sem
nacher denied to the grand jury that
ne had any knowledge of a plan to
extort money from the defendant, as
was alleged by Frank Dominguez
chief counsel for Arbuckle. Dominguez
intimated extortion was the motive
actuating Semnacher when he took to
Los Angeles articles of clothing which
| had been worn by Miss Rappe.
Threatens Libel Suit.
The grand jury hearing was sought
by District Attorney Matthews Brady
at Semnacher's request. Semnacher
was the only witness. Dominguez and
/ others of Arbuckle's counsel were in
ivited by Brady to appear before the
grand jury. but no subpoenaes were
! issued.
AS he left the grand jury room Sem
| nacher told a group of newspape-men
| suit for defamation of character
| would be filed against Dominguez.
Testimony concerning past actions
| Of Mrs. Bambina belmont, who swore
| to the complaint charging Arbuckle
| with murder. will not be allowed to
| proceed beyond the point relevant to
| the case on trial. Judge Sylvan T.
| Lazarus declared
Bars Irrelevant Testimony.
He denied permission yesterday to
Arbuckle's attorneys to proceed with
questions they said would show de-
| tails of friendship between Mrs. Del
mont and Earl Lynn. Los Angeles
motion. picture actor.
Il am not going to try the char
acter of witnesses here in this court
Judge Lazarus announced.
Mrs. belmont probably win be the
| main. witness today, the district at
torney declared. and, if her testimony
| is concluded, Zeh Provost and Alice
Blake will be summoned. These three.
like Semnacher. were guests of Ar
| buckle at his party in the St. Francis
Hotel here. when Virginia Rappe is
alleged to have received injuries
winch resulted In her death.
i DE-. Beardslee's Testimony.
Semnachers testimony took up.
most of yesterdays afternoon session.
In the morning DIR. Arthur Beardslee,
who Treated Miss Rappe after. the
revel in Arbuckle's hotel suite, testi-
fed he dDeovered evidence of rup-
tured bladder early the morning after
the party and that he advised her re-
moyal to hospital. The defense was
unable to make him admit that she
could have been suffering from any
thing else. DR.. Beardslee reiterated
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 torn blad-
der. he said an injury such as that
described would have been caused by
an external force. such as fall or
blow, although contortions incident
to violent vomiting might have pro-
duced that effect.
Evidences of alcoholism were over
shadowed by Miss RappeS suffering
from the rupture. DR.. Beardslee said.
He testified that Mrs. belmont, who
attenAed the injured girl showed no
signs of being under influence of al
cohol or drugs.
Semnacher Quizzed Closely.
The defense pursued it's question
ing of Semnacher with great vigor,
causing him to announce that he
must have been misquoted if he had
said he was Miss Rappe's manager.
His acquaintance with both her and
Mrs. belmont was more or less casual
until shortly before their trip to San
Francisco, where they attended Ar
buckles party, he said.
closely about purse he produced
from his pocket, saying it was Miss
Rappe's and asking what connection
he had had with it. Semnacher re-
asked him to look for it and that
on asking Arbuckle about it next
day Arbuckle produced it from
desk. Semnacher said he then took
it to Miss Rape in the nearby room
Asked about Mrs. Delmonts condi-
ton at the party. Semnacher testi-s
fed that, she was dressed in yellow
pajamas and appeared lit up or
about half drunk" when he first saw
from the room where Miss Rappe
afterward was found in distress.
Exact Language Uncertain.
The defense drew from Semnacher
the admission that he might have /
misunderstood Arbuckles exact Ian
guage regarding the ice incident he
said Arbuckle had described to him
prosecution that he did not mistake
Arhuckle's meaning.
II only met Mrs. belmont three
times in four years before this trip
to San Francisco" the witness said.
But you called her Maudie?" asked
Dominguez.
Il might have" answered Sem
nacher.
Dominguez questioned him closely
about his action the night before
the party, when he, Mrs. belmont and
Miss Rappe stayed at the same hotel.
Semnacher testified that he entered
met in the morning to 60 to break
sauenteen snecies of shark some of