The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-11-28
Found Her in Bathroom Sick
and Tried to Help Her.
Declares He Had Invited None
to His Room.
HAD OUTSIDE DATE THAT DAY
Liquor for Occasion Was Fur
nished by Another.
1t Was Mrs. belmont He Had
Told "Shut Up"


Fatty" Arbuckle broke a three
onths' enforced silence today and
told for the first time on the witness
stand the story of what happened IN
room 1919 of the St. Francis hotel,
where the state charges he inflicted
injuries that caused the death of Vir-
Einia Rape.
His story was a blanket denial of
any wrong doing. His words came
like a torrent long damned in re-
spOnse to the 4kilfuI questions of his
chief of counsel Gavin McNab, who
drew out the story in careful Sc
quence.
Said He Helped Miss Rappe-
Arbuckle said he found Miss Rappe
vomiting on the floor of the bathroom
of 1919 and carried her to a bed. He
said he m.nistered to her and that
while he went to get a glass Of water
she fell between the two beds. he
again placed her on a bed and then
called the other women of the party
Ito stop her from tearing her clothes.
Arbuckle arose from his seat at the
long tab.e from which more than two
weeks he has watched silently the
progress Of the trial which seeks to
convict him of manslaughter and in
response to his name, walked to the
witness stand to testify in his own be-
half.
A great crowd packed the court
room. He was the second witness of
the day. The defense had failed to
get into evidence a carefully pre-
pared demonstration of finger print
taking thru Ignatius Mccarthy.
Roscoe Arbuckle' intOned his
chief counsel. Gavin McNab.
The famous comedian arose and
skillfully maneuvered his corpulent
form down between the press and
counsel tables down to the clerks |
desk. where the oath was admins |
tered.
Yes" he answered in a clear voice |
as the clerk mumbled the injunction
'to tell the truth, the whole truth and
nothing but the truth"
He was dressed in a neat blue suit
ard freshly barbered.
Miss Rape arrived first" he said
in answer to McNab's question.
Then Mrs. belmont, Miss Prevon and
Miss Blake.
II was dressed in a batn robe and
slippers"
Here the handsome plush bath rob
worn by Arbuckle and his slippers
were introduced as evidence and iden-
titled.
Only Invited One Guest.
ArbuckIe said he came to San Fran
cisco from Los Angeles, September 3, 4
and stopped at the Hotel st. Francis.
He named the guests at the party in
injured Virginia Rappe, saying that
he had invited no one to the party
but Mrs. May Taube.
Arbuckle said he had an engage
ment to go out with Mrs. Taube a few
minutes after Miss Rape is alleged to
have been injured by him.
Il found Miss Rappe in my room.
She was on the bathroom floor, very
sick. l assisted her.
"She was holding her abdomen, and
] gave her some water.
Il helped her into the bed" Ar
buckle continued. "She said that she
had dizzy spells often. Then I went
back to the bath room. When I re-
turned Miss Rappe was on the floor,
rolling and moaning. l placed her on
the bed again
while l assisted her. Miss Provost
. and others entered the room. l went
into another room and when I came
back Miss Rappe was on the bed tear
ing her clothing"
Told Mrs. belmont "Shut Up"
Mrs. belmont, d guest of the party,
told me to leave Miss Rappe" Ar
buckle testified. Il told Mrs. Del
mont to shut up or l would throw
her out of the window
ArbuCkIe told of taking Miss RaDne
from the room and into another room
with the assistance of Harry BOYLE.
assistant manager of the hotel.
Ihe door leading from his room to
the corridor and a window of the
room were open. he said
L did not hear Miss RaDDe saw sba
nurt me, or say anything that could
be so understood" he testified He
denied having forced Miss Ranne
against a door or having told Alfred
Semnacher, a guest of the party. that
ne applied ice to Miss Rappe's body.
Uttcrs General Denial.
He denied testimony by Jesse 7
Norgard' Janitor of the Culver Citv
Calf, motion picture studio, thar he
offered Norgard a sum of money for
the key to Miss Rappe's room. His
direct examination was finished at
1850 a. IN.
Arbuckle's testimony followed a ft1-
tile attempt by the defense to have
the testimony Of Ignatius H McCartv
finger print student, admitted. His
testimony was desired to offset testf-
mOny by E. o Heinrich's finger print
expert, regarding finger prints on the
doors of Arbuckle's rooms in the no
tel St Francis. Arbuckle said he did
not know Mrs. belmont previous to
September ., the date of the party in
which Miss Rappe is alleged to have
sustained her injury
During the party Miss Rappe tele-
phoned to a Hrs. SpreckeIs, he said
This is believed TO be Mrs. Sidi Spreck-
els, the widow o John D. Spreckels
Jr. Arbuckle ever saw Alice Blake,
n guest of the party, in his life before
the affair, he said Miss Zey Provost
another guest. was also a stranger to
him. he said.
7 'od no idea that Miss Rappe.
Continued on Page Six)