The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-09-27
ACCUSE WITNESSES
OF TRYING TO GET
MONEY FROM FATTY
Charge Semnacher With Taking
Torn Clothes of Miss Rape
For That Purpose.
MRS. BELMONT is ALSO
MENTIONED BY LAWYERS
Defendants Counsel Ordered to
Make Statements Before
the Grand Jury.

(By Tire Associated press1
SAN FRANCISCO, Calf, Sept. &C.
An assertion in court today by Roscoe
9. CFatty'D Arbuckle's chief counsel,
Frank Domiuguez. that he believed
blackmail had been contemplated
against the film comedian and that
this motive figured in the defendants
arrest on a murder chage. was ordered
put before the grand jury tonight by
District Attorney Matthew A. Brady.
Brady issued subpoenas for Do
minguez and his associate counsel,
Charles II. Brennan. OF San Francisco,
and Milton NJ. Cohen, OF Los Angeles,
to appear at tonight's grand jury ses-
sion and repeat their charges.
The action was taken Brady said on
the request Of Alfred Semnacher who
was accused by Dominguez today Of
having conspired with Mrs. Bambina
belmont, the complaining witness
against Arbuckle TO take torn parts OF
the clothes OF Miss Virginia Rappe to
Los Angeles for the purpose, Do
mingues said, Of extortioning money
from the defendant who is charged
with the murder OF Miss Rappe.
Dominguez made his assertion after
long questioning OF Semnacher regard
ing his previous testimony In the case.
Police Judge Lazarus. before who
the hearing II being held, refused.
however, 70 allow Dominguez to ques-
tion Semnacher along this line saying
IT had no part in the proceedings.
Semnachers testimony took up most
Of the afternoon session. In the morn
ing Or. Arthur Beardslee who treated
Miss Rappe after the revel III Arbuc-
lxles hotel suite, testified he discov-
cred evidence Of a ruptured bladder
early the morning after the party and
that he advised her removal to a hos
pital. The defense was unable to-
make him admit that She could have
been suffering from anything else. Dr.
Beardlee reiterated his diagnosis, and
said he found her wrthing in pain so
great he had to administer sedatives
three times
Replying to a hypothetical question
regarding the cause Of torn bladder.
he said an injury such as that
described would have been caused by
an external force such as a fall or
blow although contortions incident to
violent vomiting might have produced
that effect.
Evidences OF alcoholism were over
shadowed by Miss Rappe's suffering
from the rupture, Or. Beardslee said.
Ho testified that Mrs. belmont who
attended the injured girl showed no
signs Of being under the influence of |
alcohol or drugs.
The defense pursued its questioning
Of Semnacher with great vigor, caus
ing him to announce that he must
have been rnisquoted If he had said
ne was Miss Rappes manager His |
acquaintance with both her and Mrs. |
belmont was more or less casual until |
shortly before their trip to San Fran /
cisco where they attended ArbucSle's |
party, he said.
Domlnguez questioned the witness
closely about a purse he produced
from his pocket saying it was Miss
Rappe's and asking what connection
he had had with 1t, Semnacher re-
piled that after the party Miss Rappe /
asked him to look for il and that on
asking Arbucixe about it next day
Arbuckle produced it from a desk. |
Semnacher said he then took It tol
Miss Rappe IN the nearby room where
she lay m
Asked about Mrs. Delmont's eondi-
tlon az the party, semnacher testified
that she was dressed in yellow paja-
mas and appeared cit up" or 'about
half drunk when he first saw her
He denied hearing any screams from
the room where Miss Rappe after
ward was found In distress
The defense drew from Semnacher
the admission that ne might have mis-
understood Arbuclle's exact language
regarding the Ice incident he said
ArbuclSle had described to himg and /
others but later he told the prosecu-
tion that he did not mistake ArbuckIe's
meaning
II only met Mrs. belmont three +
times 81 four years before this trip to
San Francisco" tho witness. said. "But
you called her MaudieT" asked Do I
minguez.
II might have" answered SEM
nacher.
pominguez questioned him closely |
about his actions the nieht before the
party. when he Mrs belmont and
Miss Rappe STAYED at the same hotel
semnaeher testified that the door be-
tween ms room and that occupied by
Ccontinued on rage Two)