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| Salem, Oregon Capital Journal, 14-November-1921 |
On 05-September-1921, actor Roscoe Arbuckle and some of his friends had a Labor Day party at San Francisco's Saint Francis Hotel. Guest Virginia Rappe, an actress, became sick and had to be hospitalized. On 09-September-1921, she died because of a ruptured bladder which became infected. Stories began to circulate that Arbuckle had assaulted Rappe. Tried for manslaughter three times, he was acquitted. Virginia Rappe was 26 when she died. Arbuckle's career was ruined. The newspapers sold a lot of copies. Many people who tried to defend Arbuckle said some nasty and unfounded things about Virginia Rappe.
This is a catch-up post. The first trial started on 14-November-1921 in the Hall of Justice by Portsmouth Square.
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| Salem, Oregon Capital Journal, 15-November-1921 |
"...interest in the jury selection preliminaries had dwindled even from the mild interest displayed when the trial opened yesterday."
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| Salem, Oregon Capital Journal, 16-November-1921 |
Jury selection continued. "Interest in the hearing was even more lax than yesterday." This item appeared on page six.
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| Salem, Oregon Capital Journal, 17-November-1921 |
The trial was back on the front page, but only tell people that the jury was nearly chosen.
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| Salem, Oregon Capital Journal, 18-November-1921 |
The jury was selected. The prosecution prepared to give its opening statement.
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| Salem, Oregon Capital Journal, 19-November-1921 |
A nurse who attended Virginia Rappe when she died testified that her death must have been caused by the bruises on her body. She denied that the bruises could have been made post-mortem.
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| Salem, Oregon Capital Journal, 22-November-1921 |
"Show Girl Tells of Fat's Orgy."
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| Salem, Oregon Capital Journal, 23-November-1921 |
Fred Fischbach, a friend of Roscoe's, invited Virginia Rappe and two other people to Roscoe's party. I can't find much about Fischback, but he appears to have been a comedy director.
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| Salem, Oregon Capital Journal, 25-November-1921 |
Roscoe's attorney said that the first doctor who attended Virginia Rappe would testify that she did not say Arbuckle had hurt her.
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| Salem, Oregon Capital Journal, 26-November-1921 |
I was amazed by how quickly the trial progressed.
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| Salem, Oregon Capital Journal, 28-November-1921 |
Arbuckle testified in his own defense. He denied hurting Virginia Rappe and said that some witnesses had lied.
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| Salem, Oregon Capital Journal, 29-November-1921 |
The jury in the case.
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| Salem, Oregon Capital Journal, 30-November-1921 |
Jack White, comedy director, said he had made movies with Virginia Rappe and that she "appeared normal."
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| Salem, Oregon Capital Journal, 02-December-1921 |
Roscoe and one of his attorneys received a letter with a death threat.
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| Salem, Oregon Capital Journal, 03-December-1921 |
The jury was split, with a majority calling for acquittal.
The issue of December 4 was not available.
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| Salem, Oregon Capital Journal, 05-December-1921 |
Matthew Brady, District Attorney, promised to prosecute the retrial personally.
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