Arizona republican., 1922-05-21
CHARGE OF BICAMY IS FILED
AGAINST RODOLPH VALENTINO
MOTION PICTURE
STAR RELEASED
ON $4,000 BAIL
TRepublican A. p. Leased Wlre1

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Los ANGELES, May 20.-Rodolph
Valentino, motion picture star ar
rested today on a charge of bigamy,
was at liberty tonight under $4,000
bonds to appear for preliminary
hearing June /. The complaint
against him was issued by the dis
trict attorneys office. After his ar
raignment before justice Of the
peace, Valentino issued statement
saying his marriage to Miss Wini-
fred Hudnut at MeXicali, Lower Cali
fornia. a week ago today. was
prompted by the nobiest intentions
that man could have" He said he
had been advised that a marriage on
Mexican soil would be valid, not
withstanding the fact that year had
not elapsed since the time his first
wife, Miss Jean Acker was granted
an interlocutory decree of divorce in
a Los Angeles court
The complaint was issued by Dep
uty District Attorney Tom McClelland
upon receipt of a report from inves-
tigators that they had inspected the
record of the marriage at Mexicali
and had located witnesses who were
prepared to testify that Valentino
and his bride had passed last Tues
day night at Palm Springs. a resort
in Riverside county, California
These circumstances, according to
Mr.. McClelland, made possible a pros
ecution for bigamy under the Cali
fornia penal code
The decision to issue complaint
against Valentino was reached by
the district attorney after consider
able deliberation. he said, and fol-
lowing several consultations with his
staff. The situation is unusual if
not unique in California court pro-
ceedings, in that the prosecution has
been instituted in a county where no
overt act Of the alleged felony took
place.
The district attorneys contention
is that the laws of California have
been violated by the marriage at
Mexicali, and subsequent residence in
Riverside county, and that action
could be undertaken in any part of
the state.
1t was brought out in the conf
plant that Valentino is resident of
Los Angeles county and that the in
teriocutory decree granted his first
wife was issued here. Mr. McClel-
land said he thought these might turn
out to DE important points in the case.
The district attorney also said he
believed the question might be raised
of whether q marriage outside the
county could be bigamous under the
California code. The code provides
that the marriage outside the state"
of person having husbandtor wife
living is bigamous, provided there
should be subsequent residence with
in the state of the parties to such
marriage.
Valentines Statement
Valentino later made i statement
as follows:
Il was Informed by my friends that
O marriage across the border under
the Mexican laws would be valid
Upon my arrival at Mexcali the ques-
ton of the validity again arose and
was told by Americana officers at
Mexicali that the marriage would be
legal and was also informed by Mex
ican officials to that effect.
upon returning to California,
was advised by my attorney, W. ].
Gilbert, that the validity of the mar
riage might be questioned in Cali
fornia. Upon receiving this infor-
nation we had a conference and it
was determined that We should sepa-
rate and that Mrs. Valentino would
return to her parents and that |
would remain in California and go on
with my work.
Having lived Tor snort time III
New York city before coming to Call
fornia, and knowing that many mar
riages were performed in New Jer-
sey, Just across the line, after a di-
vorce had been granted, | supposed
the same condition obtained in Cali
fornia.
81 have no intention and had no IN
tention of violating the laws of Call
fornia, nor had Mrs. Valentino AS
soon as the year shall have expired
we shall re- marry and in the mean
time we shall adhere strictly to the
law. 1t is needless to say that this
years delay will not in any way
lessen our love for each other. l can
truthfully say that my conduct IN
Los Angeles has been such that one
could not question the fact that |
have lived a traightforward and
honest life.
Il. of course, regret deeply that
should have done anything that
would lower me in the estimation of
the American people who haye been
so kind to me and have accepted me
at every turn for more than ! con-
ceiye to be my real worth and Who
have graciously called me the lover
az the screen ! viii say that the
love that made me do what l have
done was prompted by the noplest
Intentions that a man could have. /
loved deeply, but in loving | may
have erred.