New-York tribune., 1921-09-12
Screen Comedian Charged
With Causing Death of
Virginia Rappe, Film
Actress, at Rum Party
Evidence of Attack
Claimed by Police
"Fattv' Refuses to Dis
cuss Case; No Bail Is
Allowed in California
speciss pispatch to The TTosre

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 11-'Fatty"
.rbuckle is still in jail here tonight
n spite Of efforts by his lawyers to find
,on,e loophole to obtain his liberty. He
sa,,ed last night in cell at headquar-
ters after his arrest on charge OF
murder as a result of the death OF Vir-
c;nia Rappe, film actress, after drink
ipp bout last Monday in Arbuckle's
room, at the Hotel st. Francis. The
charge of murder WAS laid by Detective
Csptain Duncan Mathesoh, under the
,eetion of the California law interpret
;rp as first degree murder death
y.sulting from an assault or an at
tempted assault. The Rappe case falls
rithin this classification. Persons held
for murder cannot be admitted TO bail
in California.
Through four weary hours Of waiting
in the Hall Of Justice last night, the
very worst that the actor and his
friends looked for from the authorities
Tas charge OF manslaughter.
That the progress of the police inves-
Agstion into the drinking party at the
hotel already warranted charge Of
murder was the opinion expressed by
Chief of Police Daniel O'Brien, Milton
Uren, Assistant District Attorney, and
Captain Matheson.
"This woman" said Captain Mathc-
son. without doubt died as result OF
IN attack By Arbuckle. That makes it
arst degree murder, in our opinion. We
don't feel that a man like Fatty Ar
buckle can pull stuff like this in San
Francisco and get away with it"
Arbuckle Formally Booked
From the Office of Captain Matheson,
almost exactly at midnight, Arbuckie
was conducted by detectives to the city
prison, where he was formally booked
ior murder, without bail. He was as
signed to cell with bare furnishings.
Arbuckle had been cautioned by Frank
Doringuez, his Los Angeles attorney,
before yesterdays momentous journey
began from the south to "say no word
tc any one, come what may" The ro-
tund star agreed to obey the lawyers
injunctions at the start from Los An
geles. Consistently throughout the day
he resisted any and all attempts to get
him to talk.
Even when at midnight he staggered,
red in the face, forlorn of expression
and weak Of knee, out of the office Of
Captain Matheson, shocked at the seri-
BUSINESS Of the charge against him, Ar
buckle kept his word. Once he turned
mis- head as IL to speak to Dominguez,
Tho followed close behind. But the
stern counsel, who in the inner office had
refused to allow his client to utter a
word in his own defense, quickly raised
MS finger to his lip in admonition. Ar
buckle, in obedience, closed his lips and
followed his guard of detectives to the
city prison.
Drove His Own Car
When Arbuckle arrived in San Fran
cisco about 8 o'clock last night and was
met at Market and Montgomery streets
By detectives, who escorted him to the
Hall of Justice, he was subdued, but
showed no Indications Of great distress.
ne personally drove his custom built,
sportively decorated touring car over
'he road from Los Angeles, and when
me detectives met him he was stand
,llg on the curbing opposite the Crocker
.N'oiioi pouh CoOliy smoking q
cigarette.
While photographer had him in
snarge Arbuckle made his only break
in silence of the entire evening.
AS Arbuckle stood before this camera
some one made the trite uggestion,
LOOK pleasant. please"
Not on an occasion of this sort" re-
sponded the actor in low tone. Plans
*sfe made for the Immediate raising
ol Dali In case charge of manslaugh-
sef were to be preferred. Nothing
more serious than that was discussed
~ the corridors Of the Kali of Justice,
aad when 1t was announced that Ar
ouckie would be charged with murder
si ana committed to jail without bonds
"'s friends literally wilted.
AL persons available who were
Anown to have been in the drinking
psfIy IN Arbuckle's room which ended
.;as n MSS Rappe's collapse were ques-
n0na I,onea during the day by Lieutenant of
.Ds.eetlves Michael Griffin and De-
asaa sso.l'es s. Henry McGrath, Griffith Ken
"ery, Thomas Regan and John Dolan.
i"o OF the witnesses interviewed
scers Mrs. Jean Jamison, 257O Bush
upsfees' the nurse who attended Miss
ssl3 saIppe at the hotel and later at Wake
@'4u 0anatorium, and Ira G. Fortlouis,