The Washington times., 1921-09-13

Woman Who Reared Miss Rape
Says She Had Few Init
/ mate Friends.

Los ANGELES, Sept. 1S.-The
woman who twelve years ago prom
issd the dying mother Of Virginia
: Rappe to take care of the girl whose
death has caused a murder charge
: against Roscoe Arbuckle told today
Of the high characer of the motion
picture actress.
Promise to Mother.
This woman is Mrs. Joseph Har-
debeck. of 504 North Wilton place.
companion to Miss Rape.
Twelve years ago. In Chicago. she
pledged her word that II she could
afford protection. no harm would
ever come to Virginia. She has
zealously since tried to make good
that guardianship over the girl who
had lost both parents. Said Mrs.
Hardebeck in her cottage here as
she dabbed at her eyes with a hand
kerchief:
= son her deathbed. virginia's
mother asked me to watch out for
the girl. I had known the family
for q long, long time. i had known
Virginia since she was a tot.
sT promised her mother would
; DO my best to take care Of Virginia.
The girl came to Los Angeles a few
years ago and, In keeping with my
vow. I moved to Los Angeles with
my husband year ago.
A Sweet, Kindly Girl.
virginia was q sweet, kindly girl
s-as nice q girl. as could be found.
She had few men friends and she
wasn't intimate with many girls.
II think her closest friends were
Ia - Ne aaH
manager Of the company. When she
did go out with q girl It was with
Miss Hansen.
For the last few months Virginia
stayed home almost constantly. Her
chief delight was in tramping over
the hills around Hollywood with her
dog. don't think she went out with
other people more than two or three
times In the last six weeks"
At this point the interviewer re-
minded Mrs. Hardebeck Of q rumor
that her protege recently underwent
o serious operation Forgetting her
sorrow for moment I'm her indigna-
ton, Mrs. Hardebeck replied sharply:
I eft didn't amount to anything.
About two months ago she had an
abscess on the leg. nursed her the
few days she was In bed. We had
q doctor IN twice. Any report that
W
any operation. legal or otherwise, dur
ing the past year, Is a he."
Her Last Journey.
Resunning her story Of Miss Rappe's
character, Mrs. Hardebeck could not
restrain her bitterness as she said:
(, -She knew Arbuckle. But she knew
him just as she knew all the other
boys and girls at the motion picture
colony. So far as know he was
never In her house and she was never
in his. -. 49, r..-.
GAS to her trip to San Francisco |
which ended In her DEATH, Virginia, |
Mr.. .Semnacher, Mrs. B. NJ. Del
mont, and Mr., Semnacher's son,
were to go on a little outing to
Fresno, where Mrs. belmont, Vir-
Einia told me. had q home. They
left Saturday morning. We had
up with lot coffee ct sand IN Vacuum ana
Virginia. for some reason or
other. took an unusually large sup
ply Of clothing, whole suitcase
full. It included a white silk waist
and q pair of silk white boomers
(the police have found these items
Of apparel. torn to shreds).
The The party party planned "a. to S, drive to
IScuos CdlLlB 4LOiIt Iuo hhHnp0Eb
the way. They were to stay at Mrs.
Delmont's place in Fresno over Sun
day and Labor Day and then come
back.
.... Felt No Alarm.
"1 had no idea they were going on
TO San Francisco until Monday, when
] got card from Virginia, dated
Sunday, saying she was having q
lovely time and that they would
"B SUNNI