Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-09-15
MANSLAUGHTER CHARGED
INSTEAD OF MURDER
IN ARBUCKLE SCANDAL

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 14.-The
way was cleared today for a speedy
trial of Roscoe C. CFatty') Ar
buckle, motion picture comedian, on
one of two charges, which hold that
he is responsible for the death of
Miss Virginia Rape, motion picture
actress after she had been subjected
to an alleged attack in. his rooms in
the St. Francis hotel.
The first charge is murder, pre-
ferred Monday by Mrs. Bambina
Maoae belmont, who said she was
In an adjoining room at the time
of the alleged attack. The second
is manslaughter, which was return
ed as true bill by the grand jury
last night and which will become
formal indictment when it is filed
In court tomorrow.
"One of the girl witnesses in the
Arbuckle case has admitted to me
that she was approached by friends
of Roscoe Arbuckle with regard to
her testimony" Captain of Detec-
tives Duncan Matheson declared to-
day. Matheson refused to say who
the witness was. or to give any de-
tails. ITO do so would endanger
possible arrest he explained.
Arbuckle had an early breakfast
in his cell today after a sound nights
sleep and at o'clock was awaiting
call from his attorneys before leav-
ing the Jail for the Inquest room.
Fatty Foils Booze sleuth
The authorities are discussing to-
day the charge on which they will
bring the actor to trial. District At.
torney Brady is of the opinion that
the murder charge should stand. If
Arbuckle is cleared of that charge
in the event that he is tried on it,
he still must face the manslaughter
charge.
The coroners inquest, which start
ed Monday, was continued today
with Miss ley Provost and Alice
Blake, show gi,'s, scheduled as wit
nesses. They attested in statements
to the authorities and the grand jury
that they were present at the Labor
day party in the st. Francis hotel in
which Miss Rape is alleged to have
received the injuries that resulted in
her death four days later.
The Women's Vigilante committee,
formed to assist the moral forces of
the city in maintaining the honor of
the courts and of the administrative
bodies, is expected at its regular
meeting today to take up the Ar
buckle matter and determine on the
stand it shall take. .,---t
Arbuckle received news of his in
dictment in the city prison early to-
day. He said nothing and appeared
unmoved. Newspapermen who at
tempted to interview him noted that
his face was more pallid than usual
and that an air of detection seems
to have become fixed on him. He
sent out for his breakfast, excepting
its items a secret.
Dr. Mariana Bertola, president of
the Women's Vigilante committee,
said she expected the committee at
it's meeting today would adopt reso-
lutions pledging every, possible as
sistance to the authorities in the
clearing up of the Arbuckle case.
1--WE will have committee of
women at the trial." DR.. Bertola SAID
Still another angle was given the
case today when Forest Mittehal,
state prohibition director, was learn
ed to be considering laying before
q federal grand jury the question of
kvhere the liquor for the Arbuckle
barty came f ON.
3 ArbuckIe said nothing-in accord
ance with his plan of keeping silence
during an hours questioning by
prohibition agents.
The questioning ended, when, &C
cording to the prohibition agents,
Arbuckle said:
There wasn't any liquor at the
party"
Opening of the injuest was delay
ed by the absence Of Miss ley Prev
ost, the witness who gave startling
testimony before the grand jury last
night and who was expected to fur
nish the sensation of today's in
quest session.
Arbuckle came into court dressed
in his blue Norfolk suit accompanied
by his attorneys and guards.
He was more cheerful than at any
time since his arrest. His attorneys
expressed themselves as highly con-
fident, reiterating their assertion of
asst night that our case is won"
Two Charges
Two charges today had been placed
against Roscoe C'Fatty'') ArbuckIe,
motion picture star, in connection
with the death of Miss Virginia
Rape, film actress. The San Fran
cisco county grand jury late last
night voted an indictment charging
manslaughter, but District Attorney
Mathew Brady declared that prose-
cution on a murder complaint already
under way in the justice court would
not be halted.
The grand jury indictment does
not come within the province of the
Justice court, but goes direct to the
superior court, where it is return
able next Thursday. A warrant for
the film comedians arrest on the
Aanslaughter charge is expected to
be issued Friday, the district attor-
ney said. The murder complaint was
sworn to Monday by Mira. Bambina
nnIY 1IA f,.ia