The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-10-16
Alexander Pantages, Vaudeville
Millionaire, Got His Start
in the Geld Rush
NOW FACES PRISON TERM
Kate Rockwell. Who Staked
Him to First Stage Venture.
Is Case Mystery

Los Angeles. Oct. l6.-tNEAl-For
the first time III his life Alexander
Pantages. wealthy theatrical mag
nate. is holding the spotlight on the
center Of the stage instead of being a
guiding figure behind the scenes.
Ent III this case the stage" hap
pens to be a Los Angeles criminal
courtroom. from which Pantagcs may
60 to San Quentin penitentiary for a
term Of one to 50 years. The million
alre theatrical magnate is n0W
charged with assaulting l7-year-old
Eunicc Pringlc. former University OF
Southern California coed.
Wife Faces Prison, Too
Pantagcs' trial marks the second
stage in the series of misfortuncS that
have como upon his family in recent
months. A shor. time ago Mrs. Pam
tages. his wife, was convicted OF man.
slaughter after her auto had struck
and killed a man. She va accused
OF being intoxicated at tho time. and
now faces a possible prison sentence
Of n to 10 years.
The present trial has all the as
poets OF a sensational .sidcshow.'
with defense and state attorneys TAX
ing turns as "spiclers."
Long before the courtroom opens
each morning core OF flappcrs.
sheiss and older men and women are
waiting in line. eager to get inside
the doors to hear the intimate bits OF
testimony. So eager are these hope
full spectators, who come armed with
lunches. books and magazines to pass
away the time until they are admit
ted to the ovcrcrowdcd chamber. that
a special force of deputy sheriffs has
been pressed into service to maintain
order.
Mystery Woman Enters"
Interest is heightened by the fact
that there Is a mystery woman" wit
ness in this case. Kate Rockwell. once
a dance hall queen III the Yukon when
Pantases was getting his start during
the great Alaska gold rush, was
called to testify. and while neither she
nor District Attorney Fits would dis
close in advance the nature of hel
testimony, Fits was elated over hel
presence. It is said that the Klon.
dixie dance hall queen staked Pan.
tages in his first crude theatrica
venture in Alaska and started thu
career that was to bring him many
millions. Then they parted-to meet
again 80 years after at Pantages' pres.
ent trial.
OF course. there is the moving pic.
ture flavor. without which no Lol
Angeles trial would be complete. Flap.
per actresses. actors and director,
may be ecn in court daily. scatterct
singly or in groups about the court.
room. It Is quite apparent that the,
are there for two reasons-to be seer
by all who will look at them, and Il
listen IN on whatever dirt" may b
made public.
Girl Tells story
The central figure is the complain
Ing witness-little Eunicc Pringle
Throughout the trial her face In
kept the same expression-a sort D
mute appeal to be released from tn
prying eyes and eager ears and be II.
lowed TO forget the whole tragic &
perience.
Only once since the trial opened IN.
that expression changed. That Va
when the girl took the witness atanl
70 tell the jury and d roomful D
thrill-seeking spectators the details o
Pantages' alleged assault upon her
During that ordeal she broke dow
and wept.
Pantages Wears pekee Faee
Pantages has worn Z poker face
from the start. While Miss Prinel
was testifying he appeared restles
md nervous. but hts expression neve
changed.
District Attorney Fits IS the otle
PRINCIPAL II this legal drama. ~