The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-09-23

San Francisco, Sept 23-The sec
ond reel of Roscoe FATTY" Arbuckle's
first appearance as a tragedian was
to be shot this afternoon before an
other matinee audience of women
only" that promised to eclipse the rec
ord attendance established yesterday.
At the second session of his pre-
liminary hearing, the famour come
dian was scheduled to face his ac-
cusers as the state proceeded to lay
before Judge Sylvan Lazarus the evil
dence on which District Attorney
Matthew Brady expects Arbusckle to
be held for trial in superior court
for the murder of Virginia Rape,
film actress, who died following at
tendance at 'Fatty's" gay Labor day
party"
Bambina Maude belmont, friend of
the dead girl, who accompanied her to
the party, was to appear in the stellar
role of prosecuting witness. For the
first time since the party, she is to
face the man she alleges attacked and
injured her friend. Backing up her
testimony, the state is erpected to
call Alice Blake and Zeh Prevon,
show girls, who were also in attend
ance at the party.
AL Semnacher, manager for Miss
Rappe, whose story before a Los An
geles grand jury as to certain admis-
SionS by Arbuckle, was another wit
ness whose testimony was expected
to be presented by the state.
The late hour of convening-2
o clock made it doubtful whether the
state could complete its case today as
had been planned. Assistant District
Attorney Milton URen, who is hand
ling the court proceedings. said that
every effort would be made to COM
pIete presentation of the states case
before adjournment tonight.
The initial session was compare
fjU0lW hTipf-a little two hours.
lat which four witnesses were heard.
They included DR.. Shelby Strange. Of
ficial autopsy surgeon; DR.. William
|Ophuls, who made an unofficial
autopsy; Miss Grace Halston, a nurse
who assisted in the autopsy performed
by DR.. Ophuls, and Percy r. Hennes-
sey. board of health employe, who
certified to Miss Rappe's death.
But four salient facts were adduced
IN their testimony.
1t was established that Miss Rappe
is dead; that her death was due to
peritonitis following q ruptured blad-
der; that the rupture was probably
force.''
That a number of bruises were
found on her body and that one on
her arm was, in the opinion of wit
nesses, superinduced by Finger pres
sure"
clashes between counsel for state and
counsel for defense. Assistant District
Attorney U'Ren and Frank Dominguez,
Jwho' heads Arbuckle's legal battery,
were at loggerheads constantly. How
ever, the hearing was expedited by
the disinclination of the defense to
cross examine witnesses other than to
make certain formal inquiries to COM
plete the record.
Thruout the hearing, the defense
gave no signs of its plans. What steps
it expects to take when the state fin
fishes, remains undisclosed. 1t was
reported but not confirmed, that Fred
F'ishback and Ira Fortlouis, guests OF
Arbuckle at the party and summoned
as witnesses for the state, are to be
called by the defense.
| 1t was reported today that DR.. Ar
thur Beardslee. missing physician who
attended Miss Rape the first night OF
her illness, had returned to the city
and would be questioned today by Dis
trict Attorney Brady. Inasmuch as the
state has not as yet called any of the
physicians who attended Miss Rappe
during her weeks illness, it was con-
Isidered probable he would not appear
at the preliminary hearing.