New-York tribune., 1921-09-20
Arbuckle's Wife
Visits Him i'm Jail;
Asks Square Deal
Crosses Continent To Be
With Accused Film Star
After 4-Year Separation;
May Be Defense Witness

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept 19.-- After
spending rather dull Sunday, smok-
ing in his cell, Roscoe Arbuckle, mo-
tion picture comedtan, accused of be-
ing responsible for the death of Vir-
ginia Rappe, motion picture actress,
had the monotony OF Mis- prison life
broken to-day by a visit from his wife,
known professionally as Nina Durfee,
who had crossed the continent to be
with her husband after hearing of his
arrest on the charge of murdeEe
The meeting of the pair, who have
not been living together forSfour years,
was an affectionate one, although not
of demonstrative nature. They had
a long conference, the conversation be-
ing carried on in very low tones. The
nature of it was, of course, not dis
closed by either of the parties.
Mrs. Arbuckle was accompanied by
her mother, Mrs Flora Dprfee, of Los
Angeles, who met her daughter at
Chicago. Shortly after her arrival
Mrs. Arbucklc issued a statement ad-
dressed to the people of San Francisco,
asking them to suspend judgment on
the question of the guilt or innocence
of her husband until lhe has full
nearing anu w SlVc ulul square
deal"
May Be Defense Witness
1t was noticeable that while Mrs. Ar
buckle has said that she came West to
see her husband entirely of her own
accord, the conduct of her attorneys
created distinct impression that they
regard her as a witness for the de-
fenSe. N
Interest in the Arhuckle case to-day
revolved about the grand jury proceed
ings Tonight and the testimony of GER
tain witnesses, one Of them not located
important bearings on the case.
Search was begun to-day for s'mys-
terry woman" whose name. has not yet
appeared in the case. She is Edna C.
Grant, said to be nurse. She wrote
to District Attorney Brady on letter
head of the Whitcomb Hotel, saying
that she knew details Of the Arbuckle
party at the ST. Francis Hotel that had
not yet come to light and which would
have an important connection with the
case against Arbucltle. Detectives have
been assigned to find the writer of the
letter.
Girl Changed, Story
The grand jury investigation is
largely the result Of an alleged re-
mark made by Miss Joyce Clark, friend
of Miss zey Prevon-Prevost, one of the
important prosecution witnesses. Miss
Clark first said that Miss Prevon-
Provost, in relating the story of
Arbuckle's party, declared that "a girl
had taken, fit and tore her clothes off
of her" Later, when the case came
to the attention of the police, the
Prevon- Provost girl is alleged to have
changed her story and testified she
heard Miss Rappe cry: "He killed me;
he killed me; Pm DYING.
Miss Clark was subprenaed to ap-
pear before the grand jury. There she
will be confronted with DR.. Gabo1
Kingstone and Reggie Morley, acto,
and salesman. 1t is to these two that
Miss Joyce is alleged to have declared:
There is money in this Arbuckle case
and I'm going to get it," 49,
So. far as can be learned this is the
only evidences of alleged tamperine
with witnesses that has come to the at
tention of the District Attorney. Ii
the facts can be substantiated Brady
will ask indictments. 1t is not known
whether any other persons outside ot
those subpmnaed to appear before the
grand jury are implicated in the al
legged tamperng
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 19.-Funera1
! services were held here to-day for Miss
Virginia Rappe, notion picture ac-