The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-09-24
PENSACOLA EXTENDS HEA RTY WELCOME TO
VISITING S7I1ZNEI2S AND MOROCCO TEMPLE
WILD NIGHT OF ORGY IN FRISCO
HOTEL LAID BARE BY WITNESS
Alfred Semnacher Tells of Hap
penings the Night of Ar
buckles Party.
a. The Associates Press.l

The preliminary hearing OF Roscoe
("Fatty') Arbuckle. charged with the
murder of Miss Virginia Rappe was
resumed In police court today. Alfred
semnacher, the first witness went into
the already known details Of the party
in Arbuckles suite Of rooms follow
ing which Miss Rappe's death oc-
CURED. Arbuclxle appearing more
cheerful than heretofore entered the
court room with his wife and mother
in-law.
Semnacher, reported to have told
the grand jury in Los Angeles of ad-
missions he said Arbuckle had made
named Arbuckle, Fred Fishback, Low
ell Sherman, Ira Fortlouis, Miss
Rappe, Mrs. B. NJ. belmont, Miss Zeh
Provost, Alice Blake and Mrs. Mae
Taube, and he thought one or two
others, as being present at the party.
Arbuckle and Sherman were dressed
in pajamas and bathrobe and slippers,
Semnacher said The rest were in
street attire except Mrs. belmont, he
continued.
All of the party except Mrs. Del
mont, he said, were eating. while
some were drinking liquor, which he
defined as orange juice "that could
have contained gin or anything else. !"
Semnacher testified that he left the
room and on returning half an hour
later found a Miss Clark and a Miss
Campbell had joined the party. He
could not remember, he said, any one
having left the suite
During this testimony, Arbuckle's
eyes moved slowly from the witness
to Isadore Golden, the assistant dis
trict attorney who conducted the ques-
tioning and back again.
Semnacher explained his omission
of Mrs. Taube's name at the inquest
to the fact that he did not know her
name until later when he saw news
paper picture Of Arbuckle leaning out
OF hotel window in company with
Mrs. Taube and others.
Unlike Arbuckle's first arraignment,
when unshaven Monday morning pris-
oners filed the dock well dressed wo-
men today pressed their faces against
the steel bars to get a better view
and hearing Of the case.
'sThe liquor on the table at the
party came out of bottles" Semnacher
testified. Some of the labels said
'whisley' others gin and mineral wa
ter and some unlabe1led contained
orange juice.
"The people were walking around
the room and Miss Blake and Miss
Provost danced together, and I be-
Iieve Arbuclxle and Sherman danced
with the ladies'" He added. Pressed
further, he said his memory about
Arbuclx1e was vague"
Before Semnacher's second depart |
ure half an hour later Fishback also
left the room, Semnacher said.
Semnacher said he went out with |
Ira Fortlouis, returning about four
o'clock finding the party still drink ,
Ing, dancing and enjoying phono-
graph music. Arbuckle was present, /
according to Semnacher, but he was
not sure about Mrs. belmont and Miss /
Rappe.
He paid no attention to further
in the room and soon left |
o buy cigarettes.
He returned in about half an hour,
ne said. Tho party was still in
progress. but about ten minutes later
.wo of the women went into room +
219 where Miss Rappe later was
ound
.My best recollection is that on my
'eturn, the door to room 1919 was
hut" he testified.
The door closed behind the two
women and from two to ten minutes
,lapsed without sound
'Arbuclxfe was in room 1920" Sem
lacher declared. MY recollection Is
he women game out OF room 1919 in
Semnacher continued.
''They said we shoyld all come in
IS Miss Rappe was Ill.
Arbuckle, during this bit Of testi-
nony clasped and unclasped his hands
nd rubbed his cheeks. five minute
ecess was declared by the court after
vhich the film comedian appeared
more composed.
sT saw Miss Rappe lying on the
led. moaning" Semnacher continued
she tossed from side to side with her
lands clasped to her abdomen
stT am dying! am dvingi'" she
Exclaimed. according to the witness.
Miss Rappe was unclothed Her !
arments were scattered about. The
nen all went back into room 1920
We cOulQ see through the u0OF the +,
iris putting Miss Rappe into the bath
ub Arbuclxle was still IN his PAL
1as. he stated.
Subsequently. he said. the entire
arty had supper n the comedians
oom. after which Arbucl1le went down (
tairs in evening clothes.
The torn garments he put in the
oclxet of his automobile. he said. for !
exhibition to Miss Rappa and also to !
ust of his car. X
At this point. the hearing was adj ]
burned for the day with Semnacher's !
unfinished. The examina- X
ion win be resumed tomorrow. II