Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-09-24
AL SEMNACHER
TELLS OF TRIP
PRIOR TOORGY
Declares She Was Sick
on Way to San
Francisco.

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 24-Re-
suming his testimony at the pre-
hminary hearing of Roscoe (Fatty)
Arbuckle, charged with the murder
of Virginia Rappe, Al Semnacher.
manager of the dead girl, sprung a
new surprise on the State by de-
claring Miss Rape was i'll through
out her trip to San Francisco before
the gay Arbuckle party and con-
tinued i'll until the time of her death.
The defense was visibly elated
with his statement.
Arbuckle came into court shortly be-
Iore II a. m. for the resum ption of his
preliminary hearing.
NO. 7, Roscoe ArbuckIe. murder"
shouted a court attacbe.
The famous comedian walked int, tha
courtroom and took his seat where he
was soon Joined by Mrs. Arbuckle. known
on the stage as Minta Durfee. Mrs. Ar
dckIe WIS dressed entirely In brown.
yesterday she had worn somber black
ne court. as on yesterday, was filed
enf'"ely with women chiefly representa-
yves or various wOmen's clubs.
Iht, included two members Of the
Colored Womens Clubs.
Roscoe Arbuckle never mentioned at
any time to ne that he was alone In
Room 1219 with Virginia Rappe. 1t was
never discussed with me"
In these words Semnacher sprung the
second sensation, virtually recanting his
prev rus testimony before a Los Angeles
grand jury.
Semnacher recounted in details his
second trip 10 San Francisco. This was
made Sept. TO- accompanying ArbuckIe.
Lowell Sherman. Milton Cohen and
Frank Dominique and others here. II
was at the conclusion Of this tr.p thar
the film comedian was arrested.
WAITED FOR CROWD.
on STREET CORNER.
He told of waiting from 12:3O a. m.
until $50 a. m. on a Los Angeles street
corner for the arrival of the other mem
bers OF the party. Arrangements for -
trip. he said. were made the night
fore in the office Of Los Angelo
theater
Semnachef said that on the night OF
sept. 3. before coming TO san Francisco
with niece. he visited A Los Angeles
theater where an Arbuckle picture was
shown. and Inter with his niece. called
upon Miss Mildred Harris, divorced
wife of Charlie Chaplin.
Semnccher told Los Angeles grand
jury earlier in the week q sensational
story regarding alleged admissions Of Ar
buckle the morning after" the CAV party
at which the State claims she received in
, lries which caused her death
throughout three hours of griIing yes
terday afternoon Semnacher perried all
efforts to bring this out, and in addi-
tion materially sOftened testimony he had
given at sessions of the local grand Jury
and corOner's inquest. So marked was
his reluctance to give material testimony
that be was finally ruled hostile" Wit
ness In order to permit the prosecutor
to proceed with his questioning under
rules of cross examination rather than the
more refined process of direct examina-
tion.
ACE WITNESS
PROVES a DEUCE.
The State had called Semnache- as their
ace witness, depending upon stories he
previously had told to establish the basis
Of their murder charge against the
famous film comedian This was a shift
from the original plan to use Mrs. BAN
bina Maude Delm int, prosecutor, In this
saw the Hanan automobile drive away
with only the chauffeur in it, She learned
from the station agent that Miss Tanan
had taken a train for Seagate. he broth
er'S home. Mrs. Lawes then went to
Seagate where she learned Mis- Hanan
was at the Atlantic Yacht Club. She
then went there and tried TO gain admit
tance. 1t is reported she created Il scene
when she was not permitted to enter, not
having credentials.
Soon after that, investigators have
learned. she trailed Miss Hanan on sew
eral occasions. She was never able to
meet her. Investigators believe she final
ly decided to abandon the plan to dis
figure Miss Hanan's features and decided
to kill her and end her own life
Miss Hanan and Mrs. Lawes. 1t has
developed. had their first open break on
fConfinued m Papa TbraaN