The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-09-13
SAYS WITNESS
PERJURED FOR
SCREEN ACTOR
District Attorney Alleges
Undue Influence and SIN
lister Power Brought to
Bear Delay Indictment.
MAY MAKE ARRESTS
(By Associated Press)


statement expressing the conviction
that perjury had been committed by
one of the chief witnesses for the
prosecution at the grand jury investi-
cation last night of the death of Miss
Virginia Rappe, film actress, for whose
alleged murder Roscoe Fatty Ar
buckle is under arrest, was issued
here early today by District Attorney
Matthew Brady
The statement came shortly after
the grand jury had concluded a FIVE
hour consideration of the case and ad-
Journed without voting an indictment
District Attorney Brady in the state
ment, also charged that he believed
undue influence and pressure of a
sinister character has been brought TO
bear upon certain witnesses. Wheth-
or or not an arrest will be made in
connection with his charge of perjury,
he said, would depend on further de-
velopments.
Says Testimony Changed.
In his statement, District Attorney
Brady charged that Miss ley Provost
also known as Zey Pyvron, had
changed her testimony before the
grand jury from that she had given
previously to the police and officials of
the district attorneys Office that Miss
Rape had told her Arbuckle had
caused her injuries Earlier last night
II was reported Miss Pyvron refused
TO sign a statement that Miss Rappe
had told her this, and later, it was
said. she denied that she had ever
made the assertion concerning Miss
Rappe. Brady said.
District Attorney Brady also charged
in his statement that Miss Alice Blake,
another prosecuting witness, was
missing.
District Attorney Brady's statement
follows:
I'VE have sent Miss Pyvron home
under surveillance. The girl changed
her story completely before the grand
jury Whether or not we shall arrest
her and charge her with perjury will
depend on further developments.
am convinced, however, that perjury
has been committed by her
Il am convinced that undue influ-
ence and pressure of sinister char
acter has been brought to bear on her
and other witnesses, one of whom,
Alice Blake, has mysteriously disap-
peared from her home in Berkeley.
We have been unable to find her.
In spite of these efforts to thwart
IlOn
. Will proceed and no effort will be
spared to bring the guilty ones TO
their just deserts
whenever wealth and influence
are brought to the bar of Justice
every sinister and corrupt practice is
used IN an effort to free the accused
1t is always easy to convict a moor
man. The wealthy malefactors are
the ones who find means of using
their wealth to their advantage
Wealth and influence should not count
in favor of a defendant. neither
should they count against him. This
case should be handled Just Is the
cases of other gangsters are handled.
Inc Pyvron woman made a statement
IN the presence of Captain of Detec-
tves Duncan Matheson. Assistant Dis
trict Attorney Milton U'Ren and
George Duffy. She repeated this
statement time and again. Tonight
before the grand jury she changed
her testimony"
Arbuckle, the last witness sum-
moned by the grand jury during its
flve-hour session, was aroused from a
sound sleep about one O'Clock this
morning. Arbuckle. it is said. was in
the grand jury room only three min.
utes. He is reported TO have declined
10 make any statement further than
TO explain that his lawyers had ad.
yised him TO keep quiet
Mrs belmont, companion of Miss
Virginia Rape, who died four davs
after the party in Arbuckle's rooms
where she sustained internal iniuries
was the first witness summoned be.
fore the grand jury. Al Seminacbar
another guest of Arbuckle at the
party, and the screen stars business
y manager. was the next called
Mrs. belmont Exhausted
After half an hour. Mrs. DeImont
emerged from the grand Jury roor,
leaning heavily on the arm of police.
woman Katherine O'Connor. Mrs
belmont has been i'll. she said. due
to the shock induced by the death OF
her friend, Miss Rape She is under
no restraint, police officials said. bilt
Is provided with police guard to save
ner from annoyance as the star wit.
ness in the case
Mrs. Bambino Maud belmont had
previously testified concerning the
party IN Arbuckle's rooms at a hotel
mere on Labor Day at which Miss
happe was present Other witnesses
Jurors Deliberate
AFTER Arbuckle left the grand iurv
room the jurors began to deliberate
upon the testimony given. Behind
closed doors, the jurors argued. it is
SAID Tor half an hour. having ex
cluded District Attorney Brady and
his assistants. The conclusion ther
was reached. 1t was announced n da
ter action until further evidence could
oe presented. No date was set fo,
tne resumption of the inquiry.
After the adjournment Clifford Eur
tis. foreman. said: : ~
We have decided to continue tbe
nearing TO give District ATTORNEY
Brady the opportunity to secure cor
tain information which we desire 7
: was thought best not to vote an a.
y indictment tonight"
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 13-Roscot
FATTY Arbuckle's only sister, Mrs