MOVIE TRAGEDY.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 September 1921, Page 5

MOVIE TRAGEDY.

A CHARGE OF MURDER. CASE AGAINST ARBUCKLE. SENSATION PROMISED. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright, Received September 13, 5.5 p.m. New York, Sept. 12. “Fatty” Arbuckle was formally charged with murder in the Police Court at San Francisco. Mrs. Minta Durfee Arbuckle, wife of the actor, from whom she voluntarily separated last year under an agreement whereby each can live as he or she wishes, declared that Arbuckle was innocent, and she would proceed to California to be near him until he was cleared.

A movement to bar Arbuckle films has spread throughout New York, theatreowners voluntarily excluding them from the programmes. Received Sept. 13, 8.5 p.m. San Francisco, Sept. 12. The Arbuckle case, which promises to become one of the most sensational, as yet offers little definite information. The nurse and friends of the actress swore the charge of murder, but details of their evidence are not available. Irresponsible newspapers publish harrowing descriptions of the alleged assault, most of which are hardly printable.

Arbuckle has been held over without bail until Friday. It is stated that the police have sequestered the persons who participated in the fatal party, and who will testify. Miss Rappe’s torn garments are believed to be held by the prosecution, which appears to be taking every imaginable step to prevent Arbuckle’s friends from influencing the course the State will take. Miss Rappe, who was 25 years old, was a designer of gowns and models before entering moving pictures. She was engaged to marry a New York movie director, at one time directed Arbuckle pictures. Arbuckle is aged 34, and was a juvenile actor when 8. He continued in burlesque and as a dancer before entering the movies.

Several theatres in Los Angeles have discontinued the exhibition of Arbuckle pictures, while the Mayor of one small city has ordered all theatres to discontinue them until the Arbuckle case is settled.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.

THE CAUSE OF DEATH.

EVIDENCE OF DOCTORS. LOVER THREATENS ARBUCKLE. Received Sept. 13, 11 p.m. New York, Sept. 12. Arbuckle had recently completed a movie comedy called “Crazy to Marry”, which is now being cancelled all over the country by movie managers. Papers state that Miss Rappe’s former lover threatens to come to San Francisco and kill Arbuckle. The doctors agree that a rupturedi bladder , was the cause of Miss Rappe s death. A j great crowd watched Arbuckle when he was | taken to and from the Court, handcuffed. I He was remanded on the formal charge of j murder. The inquest was adjourned, after a session which rather favored the accused.—Reuter.