Evening journal., 1921-09-24
DEATH PARTY
Barred in COURT
Alfred Semnacher, Victim
Manager, Gives Details
of Frisco Frolic
STATE SUFFERS
NEW SETBACK

SAN FRANCISCO. Sept. "a (Unit-
ed Press) The States case against
Roscoe Arbuckle hit snag today.
The sudden action of AL Sem
nacher. manager Of Miss Virginia
Rape. movie beauty. with whose /
murder Arbuckle is charged in testi-
flying as a witness for Arbuckle in |
stead of for the State as had been |
expected has hurt, the prosecution |
officials admitted.
Semnacher a few days ago told |
authorities that Arbuckle applied a
piece OF ice to Miss Rappes body
while he and the girl were alone in
Arbuckle's room. As a witness in
Arbuckle's hearing. however. Sem
nacher told the story very reluct-
antly.
After three hours OF grilling yes
terday Semnacher resumed the
stand again today when the hearing
started at 10 a. m, in a courtroom
again crowded with women. The
hearing will not be finished before
late Monday officials believe. Mrs
Arbuckle. who rushed across the
continent to be with her husband,
from whom she had been separated,
was in court with him again today
But the comedian. his attorneys and
even his press agent Kept silent
Much interest centered in the pos
sible part DR.. Arthur Beardslee, ply
sician. who was first to attend Miss
Rappe, after her fatal injuries. will
play in the case. He was questioned
for an hour yesterday by District
Attorney Brady, but what he said
was not revealed.
semnacher. the first witness
yesterday. went into the al
ready known details of the party
in Arbuckle's suite of rooms
following which Miss Rappe's death
occurred. Arbuckle. who appeared
more cheerful than heretofore, en-
tered the courtroom with his wife
and mother-in-law.
Semnacher. reported to have told
the grand jury in Los Angeles Of
admissions he said Arbuckle had
b made, named Arbuckle. Fred Fisch-
? bach, Lowell Sherman, Ira Fort
louis. Miss Rappe.' Mrs. b. NJ. Del
mont, Miss Zeh Provost. Alice Blake
and Mrs. Mae Taube, and he thought
one or two others, as being present
at the party. Arbuckle and Sher-
man we're dressed in pajamas and
4 bathrobe and slippers, Semnacher
said. The rest were in street at
, tire except Mrs. belmont, he con-
tinued.
r All Of the party. except Mrs Del.
|. mont. he said. were eating. Will
some were drinking liquor, which
he defined as orange juice, tina
r. could have contained gin or any
It thing else
). Semnacher testified that he lef
- the room and on returning half az
: hour later found a Miss Clarke and
Miss Campbell had Joined the party
h He could not remember, he said
. anyone having left the suite.
a During this testimony, Arbuckle'
h eyes moved slowly from the witness
:, to Isadore Golden. the assistant dis
- trict attorney who conducted thu
" questioning and back again.
Semnacher explained his omission
OF Mrs. Taube's name at the inques
TO the fact that he did not know he
name until later when he saw
newspaper picture Of Arbuckle lean
X ing out Of a hotel window in com
y pany with Mrs. Taube and others.
'sThe liqoor on the table at th'
q, party came out Of bottles" Sem
n nacher testified. "Some OF the la
NJ bells said whisky. others gin, an'
,e mineral water, and some unlabele'
st containing orange Juice"
ne "The people were walking arouni
NTig- Mis-
,r Provost danced together. and. I be
I'd lieve Arbuckle and sherman dane
Z. ed with the ladies" he added. Press
IT, ed further, he said his memor
ct about Arbuckle was vague"
so Before Semnacher's second dc
parture half an hour later, Fish
+. bach also left the room, Semnache
X said.
g Semnacher said he went out wit
D. Ira Fortlouis, returning about
re, o'clock, finding the party still drink
IN. ing. dancing and enjoying phonc
ge graph music. Arbuckle was pres
ent, according to Semnacher, bt
he was not sure about Mrs. Delmor
and Miss Rappe. He paid no after
he ton to further movements in III
IN. room and soon left to buy cigar
iii cites
wo He returned in about half a
ce' hour, he said. The party was stl
r. in progress, but about ten minut,
he later two Of the women went int
room 1919 (where Miss Rappe lat,
was found.)
rs My best recollection is that d
us my return, the door to room 12l
was shut" he testified
a The door closed behind the tv
women and from two to ten mil
utes elapsed without a sound.
I "Arbuckle was in room 1920
Semnacher declared. my recolle
ton is the women came out OF roo
1919 in excitement Semnacher col
tinued.
They said we should all come
as Miss Rappe was ill.,"
Arbuckle, during this bit OF test
mony clasped and unclasped h
hands and rubbed his cheeks A fiv
minute recess was declared by Il
court after which the film comedis
appeared more composed.
81 saw Miss Rappe lying on Il
bed. moaning" Semnacher conti
ued. "She tossed from side to sid
with her hands clasped to her add
n men"
r 81 am dying, I am dying" she e