Great Falls tribune., 1922-04-06
ARbUCK[ESAYS
HEF0UND RAPPE
GIRL ON FLOOR
Went to Dress to Keep
Date and Stumbled on
Guest in Bathroom.
Denies Anything at His
Party Was RESPONSE
BILE for Her Death.

| San Francisco, April 5.--An act oi
| mercy and not of evil intent toward
Miss Virginia Rape. was the thing
which precipitated Roscoe G.. (Fatty)
ArDuckle into the maze of difficulties
ieadlng to manslaughter charge
against him as result of Miss Rappe' S
death, he testified Wednesday. ia his
third trial on the charge.
i found Miss Rape i'll on the
floor of my BATH he said, in descrih-
ing incidents of the Hotel st. Francis
party in which. according to prosecu-
ton allegations. he fatally attacked
her. Il asked her if | could help her
and carried her to bed. Later / told
the other guests of the party that she
was i'll. Still later | called physician
to attend her.
Testifies Three Hours
Arbuckle's testimony occupied three
hours. the cross examination consum-
ins tWo-thirds of that time. The wit
ness was dressed in Il sombre blue. in
contrast to the light spring sartorial
effects he had worn for several days
past: He smiled as he took the stand
as though in enjoyment Of the expert
ence. but appeared bored at some
points IN the cross-examination.
The courtroom was crowded. but the
throngs were smaller than those which
greeted his premiere as witness on
the ocacslon of the first hearing of the
case.
He explained that he came to San
francisco two days before the fatal
party, purely for pleasure.
Il had Il new car to try" he said.
Later | was going to he golf tourna-
ment at Del Monte
He denied acquaintance with several
guests at the party but Miss Rappe,
he said. he had known for five years.
De also denied acquaintance with Jesse
Norgaard who testified that while he
was Watchman at a Culver CITY.
Calf. motion picture studio Arbuckie
attempted to bribe him with n fist full
Ct greenbacks'' for the key to Miss
Rappe's room at the studio.
Arbuckle followed DIR. George r.
Shlels. defense medical expert and one
OF the defense ,alienists in the, first
trial of Harry f. Thaw for the alleged
murder of Stanford White
The actor smiled as he took the
stand. He said he knew Miss Rappe
for five years. He acknowledged being
present at the party in the Hotel ST. .
rancls IN which he is alleged to have |
satally inquired Miss Rappe He said
le had invited few guests.
Three Kinds of Liquor
Gin: whisky and orange juice were
served at the party. he said. Break
asst was served at > p. m, while most
# the guests were there. He left the
'oom III which the guests were at :,
}. m. and went into his own room to
|ress for an engagement with Mrs.
day Taube. friend, he said
Il went into my bedroom and locked
he door, he said. II went to the
ath room and the door struck some
hing. | looked in and saw Miss Rappe
n the floor. She was holding her
tOmach and moaning.
u gave her some water and asked
there was anything / could do for
er. She said, j want to lay down. /
arrled her to a bed and returned to
he bath. When | came out into the
oom Virginia was on the floor. I
gain placed her on the bed and went
ut for Mrs. Bambina Maude belmont,
err friend 5
Tried to Cover Patient
"A number of guests came into the
pom. including Miss Alice Blake. Mrs.
Miss Zey Provost. Miss .
appe sat up on the bed tearing her
othes. Her sleeve was hanging by 7
,read and | pulled it off.
Il went out of the room and re- I
lrned later. Miss Rappe was living {
lde Oh the bed. I tried to cover her t
. and Mrs. belmont tried to stop me. r
said to Mrs. belmont. Shut up, or I
i'll throw you out the window" C
The witness said he was dressed in C
unging robe and pajamas. He de-
ribed the summoning of the assist II
1t manager of the hotel and the re- $
oval of Miss Rappe to another room. il
Hadn't Hands on Door $
Asked if he placed his hand over !.
at OF Miss Rappe on door of the
ON. which is in evidence as an ex- ::
bit behind the witness chair, he ans u
cred. II was not near that door for -
e whole time was in the hotel ex- g g
pit when Miss Rappe was carried q
om the ROOM Fingerprints on the !. n
or are alleged to be those of Arbuckle q
d Miss Rappe. :;
The witness denied all knowledge of =, :.
sse Norgaard. who testified that =, :,
'ile he was watchman of motion q
cture studio at Culver City, Ar r
ckle attempted to bribe him to OBJ
N the key to Miss Rappe's room.
Arbuckle confirmed certain state :.
nts regarding first aid to Miss Rappe NJ
Ide in Los Angeles to Warden Wool el
d, reporter for the Los Angeles q,
mes. el
Said She Throw Fit .
He admitted telling Woolard that :,
iss Rappe had thrown fit" He 8,