Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-04-13
QUICKLY
ACQUITTED BY Jury
Third Trial Brings Freedom to
Film Comedian Accused
in Girls Death
PLANS RETURN TO SCREEN
San Francisco. April 13.-Roscoe

San Francisco. April 13.-Roscoe G.
F'Fatty"D Arbucklc. Aim comedian
stood acquitted today after undergoing
three trials on q charge of manslau ter
for the death of Miss Virginia Rappc,
screen actress. who was taken to q
hospital fatally i'll after n party in Ar.
buckles hotel suite here.
Half an hour after the case was sub =
m:ttcd 10 the jury late yesterday after
noon. the verdict Of not guilty had been
returned
Arbuckc issued the following state.
mcnt:
This is thr most solemn moment OF
my life.
My innocence Of the hideous charges
preferred against me has been proved
by jury OF the best men and women
ot san FrancisCo--fourteen in all--ren.
d"ring Il verdict Immediately after the
trial.
For this vndca,ion am truly
grateful 10 God and my fellow men and
women.
My If" has been devoted TO the
production of clean pictures for the hap
plncss of children. shall try TO en-
Iarg" my fed of usefulness so that my
'' Nb"'A navy u NINCT SERVICE.
TO Profit by Experience
"lt IS the duty of all men to use the
lessons that have been given them by
experience and misfortune for the ben
Gift OF all, 10 make tlscm selves more
useful to humanity. This shall do,
~ can only repay the trust. conf.
doncc and loyalty bestowed upon me
during my trouble by millions of men
and women throughout the world by
rendering service in justification Of
their faith.
Members Of the jury said the actual
agreement was reached by reclamation
within a few minutes after they retired
I" deliberate. ArbuckIe said his plans
were uncertain.
II am going TO take good rest md
get rid Of some Of this surplus flesh. -
explained the actor whose picture fame
was associated with his wcighty physi-
que.
Expects Film Comeback
If tho public doesn't want me" he
added. "Ill take my medicine. But
after the quick vindication I have lust
received | am sure the American peo-
pI" will b" fair. ! believe l am due
for comeback
Members of the jury in statements TO
The press said Arbucklc deserved more
than arQui,al." Mrs. Irene Wilde. n
Juror, declared the jury had felt there
was absolutely no case against AR
buckle. Another member said the
comedian impressed us as a man who
was telling the truth.
The statement issued by the jury was
signed by all the jurors. including me
two alternates. II follows:
,,'Acquittal Is not enough for Roscoe
Arbuckle.
we feel that a great Injustice has
been done him. We feel also that II was
only our plain duty 10 give him this
aXoneration. under the evidence, for
iherr was not the slightest proof ad-
duc"d to connect him in any way with
the commission of crime.
MANLY" Throughout Case
He was manly throughout The case
and told straightforward story on
the witness stand. which We an pc.
lieved.
"The happening at the hotel was an
unfortunate affair for which Arbuckle.
50 tho evidence shows. was in no way
responsible
I'VE wish him success and hope that
the American people will take the
judgment of fourteen men and women
who have sa, listening for thirty. one
days to the evidence. that Roscoe Ar
buckle Is entirely innocent and free
from all blame.
District Attorney Matthew F. Brady
said:
Il did what I believed 10 be my duty
from the very start Of this case and gave
il the best that had. If similar
case was to come before ME I would do
Il
tn" verdict. ! will say that ] am an
American citizen and will take my
hat off to the rerdict Of an American
jury
The two previous Arbucklc trials re-
suited in disagreemrnt>. in the first OF
which the majority was for acquittfE
and in the second III" ma jorIty was for
conviction.
Took Only One Vote
Edward Brown. foreman Of the jury
said Of the case Niterward:
"C"rtainly. We = We're not long in
reaching II verdict Why should we
have needed longer: We werr unani-
jury room. We took only ono ballot
and that Standing vote. We were
out of the court room five minutes and
needed only half thar time to agree"
zone ballot: no talk was the way
Juror W. :. Van Cott summed it up.
we felt that there was absolutely
no case against Arbucklc.' said Mrs.
lrcnr Wilde. another juror.
I'VE believed Arbucklc that was all
mere was to it, said Juror Milton
Bailey. III" impressed US a. II man
who was r"llmg the truth, and that was
all We needed
Miss May Sharon. another Juror.