Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-04-13
MOVIE STAR SAYS
PUBLIC W1LL.ACAIN
ACCEPT HIS FILMS
Jury Statement Says Great
Injustice Was Done
Actor.
Verdict Announced Hall
Hour After Jury Received
the Case

San Francisco, April 13.-Thc
remaining manslauehter charge
against Roscoe G. (Fatty) Ar
buckle, who was acquitted last
night By, a jury after six minutes
Of deliberatton was dismissed toy
day by the district attorney.
The charge was q police court
Information, reduced from q
murder complaint sworn to by
Mrs. Bambina Maudc belmont.
Arbuckles acquittal yesterday
was on q grand jury indictment
accusing him of manslaughter be-
cause of the death of Miss Vir-
einia, Rappe, motion picture ac-
tress.
John T.. Williams, United
States district attorney, said to-
Gay after u conference with Ga
vim McNab, Arbuckle's chief
counsel, that lie understood Ar
buckle would plead guilty to the
federal charge OF unlawful pos
session Of liquor growing from
the Hotel St. Francis party that
preceded Miss lsappe's death.
The penalty for such an offcnsc.
is q fnc, the maximum being
$500.
San Francisco, April 13.-Roscoe c.
(Fatty) Arbuckle, film comedian
stood acquitted today after undergo
ing three trials on charge of man
slaughter Tor the, death of Miss Vir-
ginia Rappe, screen actress, who was
taken to a hospital fatally i'll after d
party at which Arbuckle was host in
the hotel rooms here. Half an: hour
after the case was submitted to the
dict of. not guilty had been Ietu rned.
Members Of the jury said tie actuat
agreement. was reached hy acclama;;
ton within a few minutes after they
retired to deliberate. Arbuckle saiC
his future plans were uncertain.
II am going to get good rest ant
get rid of some of this surplus fash
explained the actor whose picture
fame was associated with his weight,
physique.
If the public doesn't want me-" h.
added, "I'll take my medicine. Bu
after the quick vindicatiop have
just received l am sure the Ameri
can people will be fair. believe
am due for a come back" -
The two previous Arbuckle trials
had resulted in jury disagreements.
The jury was out six minutes.
The defendant was deeply affected
The verdict was received by him will
q great sigh of relief. There was nj
demonstration. The court warned
against it. Mrs. Minta Durfee Ar
buckle, the defendants wife, criet
quietly. Both she and Arbuckle shool
hands with the jurors. The quicl
return of the jury was surprise.
The case went to the Jury at $50
The two alternate jurors, one a ma,
and the other a woman, were ex
cused.
The jurors and spectators crowde,
around Arbuckle and his counsel ant
finally. bore him off to the jury room
to congratulate him further.
, t'Arbuckle has no immediate plans,
Gavin McNab, his chief counsel said
'It was splendid victory"
''The jury did its duty was tn
comment of Milton T. U'Ren, assis
tant district attorney.
Mrs. Arbuckle expressed her thank
to McNab by giving him a resoundin
kiss. The jurors held an informa
reception with Arbuckle in the jur
armed with flashlights, took man
pictures.
Say Injustice Was Done.
. A statement issued by the jury wa
signed by all the jurors. including tn
two alternates. It follows:
'Acquittal is not enough for
Roscoe Arbuckle.
I'VE feel that great injus-
ticc has been done him. We feel
also that 1t was only our plain
duty to give him this ex0nera-
tiOn, under the evidence, for there
was not the. sli&htest proof ad- ,
duccd to connect him In any way
with the commission OF . crime.
'sH0 was manly throughout the
case and told straightforward
story on the witness stand, which
We all believed.
''The happening at the hotel
was am unfortunate affair for
which ,Arbuckle, 80 the evidence
shows, was In no way responsible.
I'VE wish him success and hope
that the American people will
take the judgment Of II men and
women who have, sat nsteninG for,
81 days 10 the, evidence, that
Roscoe Arbuckle Is entirely limo. !.
cent and free from Al blame" (
Christian Wold. one OF the alter
mates, said after the. verdict that b
-had expected an acqutttal after 4
short deliberation. Il 4 ss
The third trial Of the manslaughts
charge against Arbuckle began Marc