Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1921-09-13
OWN WITNESS
AGAINST SCREEN
STAR ACCUSED
Witnesses Being Subjected To
Sinister Influence, Says Dis
trict Attorney
JUDGE NOT is APPEAL
OF FATTY'S' ATTORNEYS
Actor Innocent, Says Statement
To Public, Asking Judg-
ment Be Withheld

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept, Ia A
statement expressing the convection
that perjury had been committed by
one of the states chief witness for
the prosecution at the grand jury IN
vestigation last night into the death
of Miss Virginia Rappe, film actress
for whose alleged murder. Roscoe
(Fatty) Arbuckle is under arrest
was issued here early today by Dis
trict Attorney Brady. lie also de.
clared in the statement that he be
lievcd "undue influence and pressure
of sinister character had beer
brought to bear" on certain witness
Cs.
The grand jury adjourned short
Iy after ! O'Clock this morning with
out concluding the examination of
testimony. TIE investigation will be
resumed at date convenient to the
district attorney, it was announced
Arbuckle was brought before the
jury at ! o'clock and remained only
three minutes He is reported to
have declined to make any statement
An appeal to the thousands "hav-
ing knowledge of lhe famous Fatty
Arbuckle smile" to withhold judgment
on Roscoe Arbuckle was issued last
night by Arbuckle's attorneys
Judge not that We be not judged, z
was the keynote of the appeal.
I'VE, with complete knowledge
of all the facts, know thai Arbuckle
is innocent the statement reads
oThe patrons of the silent drama hay.
ing a knowledge Of tie smile OF the
famous Fatty ArhuckIe will nos re-
lieve that he is guilty of the charges
made against him until proven IN
court of justice.
"The Cpnstiar continent m this
! God-fearing nation VII not adiudge
any per5oa guilty Of iii alleged crime
until the same has been proven IN
spirit of our Master, who sad
| Judge not, that We be not judged
Asks Public to Wait.
"The whirwind and typhoon OF
| unjust criticism is now on Truth
will dispel the clouds of falsehood of
the Anglo-Saxon ideal that the pre-,
, sumption Of innocence prevails until
the same has been disproved beyond
a reasonable doubt.
COMEDY and tragedy come into
! tie lives of the unfortunate. In
| Gods plan the two are essential
! With an abiding confidence that the
| Christian charity of the civilized
world will be manifest in this case
we appeal to the conscience and
hearts of the American people TO
! hold in abeYance any Judgment until
the court has determined the guilt
( or innocence of our client
"To our countrymen and to his
admirers we positively declare that
the charges made against him are
false and the same will be establish
ed in due time in the courts Of JUS
ticc cf California. Bias and preju-
| dee cannot prevail"
If this drama is to have the hap
ny ending that the affairs of Ar
buckle have always had in the
movies. it will require more ngen-
uity than has ever been exhibited
by a scenario writer, for the state
T! is leaving no loophole open, il was
declared by District Attorney Brady
to complete its evidence against the
corpulent screen actor
During tie day Arbuckle was
forced to appear before Judge
/ O'Brien, mixed in with long line of
vagrants, petty thieves, women Of
the streets, and other derelicts. He
!. was allowed time TO confer with his
attorneys When the conference was
prolonged Judge Daniel O'Brien or
dered his appearance within five min
utes.
No Favors Here.
"Wc don's show tits man any fa-
vors here the judse declared plain
ly angry.
The complaint charging Arbuckle
with murder was signed by Mrs. Banl
bina Maud belmont, friend of Miss
Rappc, and who was present at the
gay party given by the comedian II
his hotel rooms and at which he Is
, alleged to have committed ac.s which
resulted in the death Of the bcautifu
young actress. After swearing to tht
complaint, Mrs belmont, who has de
f clarcd that "she will tell the irutl
, if she S killed for it" collapsed ant
had to be escorted from the cour
room
JUDGE O'Brien continued the cast
! until Thursday
G When The grand jury is hande,
( the case TWENTY-FIVE witnesses, mos
of them present at tho fatal "eil
iollification will give evidence. Th'
state has all Of these witnesses hid
den away and guarded by the detec
tiyes
I'VE will have them all on hand,
said Captain Of Detectives Duncai
Z MatFeson Our case is complet
, and we have affidavits from ever
: one of the witnesses who were at tn
/ party Many of the statements con
tain sensational charges"
3 In addition. the tern clothing Q