New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-09-24
Arbuckle Party
Orgy Described
By Senlnacl1er
Comedian Appears More
Cheerful as His Guest
Describes Party Which
Resulted in Girls Death
Women Crowd Corridors
Witness Says That Liquor,
Eating and Dancing
Marked Entertainment


lininary hearing of Roscoe Crafty
Arhuckle, charged with the murder OF
Miss Virginia Rape, was resumed in
nolice court to-day. Alfred Semnacher
the first witness, went into the already
known details Of the party in Arhuckle's
site Of rooms, following which Miss
gappe's death occurred. Arbuckle. an
nearing more cheerful than heretofore
entered the courtroom with his wife
and mcther-in-law.
Semnacher, who was reported to have
told the grand jury in Los Angeles of
admissions he said Arbuckle had made
named Arbuckle, Fred Fischbach. Low
al Sherman. Ira Fortlouis, Miss Rappe
Mrs. B. M. belmont, Miss Provost, Alice
Blake and Mrs. Mae Taube. and he
thought one OF two others, as being
present at the party. Arbuckle and
Sherman we're dressed in pajamas and
ba.hrobe and slippers, Semnacher said
The rest were in street attire except
Hrs. belmont, he continued.
All of the party, except Mrs. Del
mont, he said, were eating. while some
we're drinking liquor which he defined
IS orange juice "thas could have con-
tained gin or anything else"
Two Girls Arrive
Semnacher testified that he left the
room and on returning half an hour
later found a Miss Clark and Miss
Campbell had joined the party. He
could not remember, he said, any one
having left the suite.
During this testimony Arbuckle' S
eyes moved slowly from the witness to
lsadore Golden, the Assistant District
Attorney, who conducted the question
ing, and back again.
Semnacher explained his omission of
Mrs. Taube's name at the inquest ia
the fact that he did not know her name
until later, when he saw a newspaper
picture of Arbuckle leaning out of a
hotel window in company with Mrs
Taube ard others.
Unlike Arbuck!e's first arraignment
when unshaven Monday morning pris-
oners filed the dock, well-dresse d
women to-day pressed their faces
against the steel bars to get a better
view and hearing Of the case.
Liquor in Bottles
1Tke liquor on the table at the party
came out of bottles" Semnacher testi-
fed Some of the labels said whisky
others gin, and mineral water, and some
ualabeled contained orange juice"
aThe people were walking around the
nam and Miss Blake and Miss Pre-
sus danced together, and, l believe
A1nckle and Sherman danced with
Eslsdies,"' he added. Pressed furthe err
be said his memory about Arbuchle
vas vague.
Before Semnacher's second depar-
lure, half an hour later, Fischbach also
left the room, Semnacher said
Semnacher said he went out with
Ira Fortlouis, returning about 4 o'clock
finding the party still drinking, dane
ing and enjoying monograph music
Arbuckle was present, according tc
Semnacher, but he was not sure about
Mrs. belmont and Miss Rape. He
paid no attention to further movement
in the room and soon left to buy ciga
rettes.
Door to Room Shut
He returned in about half an hour
be said. The party was still If
progress, but about ten minutes later
two of the women went into Room
1919 (where Miss Rape later was
found.
"My best recollection is that on my
return, the door to Room 1919 was
shut" he testified.
The door closed behind the two
women, and from two to ten minutes
elapsed without sound.
"Arbuckle was in Room 1920" Sem
nacher declared "My recollection is
the women came out of Room 1919 in
excitement" Semnacher continued.
4They said we should all come in, as
Miss Rape was i'll"
Arbuckle. during this bit of testi-
mcny, clasped and unclasped his hands
and rubbed his cheeks. A fiye-minute
recess was declared by the court after
which the film comedian appeared
more composed.
Il saw Miss Rape lying on the bed,
moaning" Semnacher continued. "She
tossed from side to side. with her
hands clasped to her abdomen"
Il am dying, / am dying!" she ex-
claimed. According to the witness
Miss Rape was unclothed and her
garments scattered about. All the men
went back into room 1920. We coulc
see through the door the girls putting
Miss Rape into the bathtub." Arbuckle
was still in his pajamas. he stated.
Subsequently,, he said, the entire
party had supper in the comedians
room, after which Arbuckle went down
stcirs in evening clothes.
The torn garments he put. in the
pocket of his automobile, the witness
said, for exhibition to Miss Rape and
also to dust off his car.
At this point the hearing was ad-
lourned for the day with Semnacher's
testimony unfinished. The examina-
ton will be resumed tomorrow at
1890 a. m.