The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-11-26
VIRGINIA RAPPE
STATEMENT GOES
To ARBUCKLE JURY
Witness Says Girl Stated She
Was intoxicated
OFTEN TORE HER CLOTHES
Trial of Fatty Arbuckle Is Near
in End Of Testimony
Physician on Stand

San Francisco, Nov. 26.-- Miss vir.
ginia Rape, motion picture actress,
whose death the State charges, re-
suited from injuries received at the
hands of Roscoe c. Arbuckle, was rep
resented in a statement read at the
Arbuckle manslaughter trial here yes
terday as having stated to DR.. NJ. Il.
Rumwell, San Francisco physician
that she must have been intoxicated. "
for she could not remember what had
happened during the course Of party
in Arbuck.es hotel rooms here. DR..
Rumwell testified to having attended
Miss Rape after the party.
Under Cross-examination Miss Nor
gan testified to having attended a
South Pasadena woman during an op.
GRAFTON. The prosecution explained
that by bringing out this information
II wished to establish motive for
Miss Morgan's statements regarding
Miss Rape. That line of evidence
was stopped by the court.
The crowds were so dense at the
opening Of the afternoon session that
the defendant and counsel had diff
Guilty in reaching their seats.
Mrs. Bambina Maud belmont, who
brought the charge of murder against
Arbuckle, which was later reduced to
manslaughtar, was spectator. 1t was
her first appearance since the trial
began.
DIR, Lloyd Bran of San Francisco, a
defene medical expert, was the first
witness. He was followed by DR..
George Franklin Shiels of San Fran
cisco.
Both physicians testified that blad-
der rupture OF the nature suffered by
Miss Rape night under certain con
ditions be caused spontaneously. The
prosecution contends that they were
caused by Arbuckle DR.. Shiels Illus
trated on blackboard how a alchol'
ism or hysteria may cause such inJur-
les.
The reaction of shock from cold
bath might produce the injuries re-
ferred to he said. Miss Rappe was
given such a bath at the time she is
alleged to have been injured Under
REORGANIZATION he admitted that
there Is a sharp difference Of opinion
among authorities as to the causes OF
bladder rupture.
Mrs. belmont sat close to Mrs
Minta Durfee Arbuckle, wife OF the
defendant, but as far as could be
seen the women did not glance at each
other.
Arbuckle apparently was unmoved
by the evidence. He appeared more
cheerful during the recess periods
than he has been for some time past.
M IS Jennie Neighbors tod of hav
ing met Miss Rappe at summer re-
sort near Los Angeles aud of having
ministered to her at the girls request
for what seemed to be abdominal
pains.
Harry Il Barker, ranchman OF
Stockton, said he had known Miss
Rappe intimately for five years ana
that he had seen her on several occa-
sions "all doubled up and tearing at
her clothes Once he said she ap'
peared to suffer greatly after drinking
small glass Of wine Barker said he
had a real estate bus ness III Gary,
md. as we'll as his ranch in California.
Miss Rappe told him she had been
drinking and "she did not recollect
anything that had happened" DR..
Rumwell testified The prosecution
moved that this testimony be stricken
out. but the court allowed it to re-
main.
DR.. Rumwell said he saw no bruises
or other marks on Mss Rappe's body.
DR.. Rumwell was not cross-examined.
Miss Irene Morgan, nurse, OF South
Pasadena, said she was employed inS
Hollywood by Miss Rappe as house
keeper and nurse. She said she saw
Miss Rappe tearing at her clothes
many tines and treated her at least
five times for bladder trouble.
Her patient used to double up and
cry" presumably as result of the
trouble the witness said
After drinking Intoxicating liquor
MISS Ranpe would tear her clothes off,
she said.