A WRONG IDEA OF JUSTICE
We have found many of Mrs.
L. Graham Crozier's articles
well worth printing, and have
always given her space in the
Herald to express her views.
But we are not at all in accord
with her in her views regarding
Fatty Arbuckle. We are considerably disappionted in the action
she has taken as a member of
the "Better Films" committee
of Knoxville. Recently the committee passed resolutions calling
on the local theatres to refuse
thefe Arbuckle films entrance to
their theatres. With the exception of Mrs. Orozier, the club
was unanimous in asking it.
Mrs. Crozier comes out in defense of Arbuckle, saying that
"in the name of justice" he
should be permitted the same
rights as before his trial for
murder, inasmuch as the courts
declared him innocent of the
murder of a movie actress. We
want to ask if Mrs. Crozier or
anybody else really believes Arbuckle is blameless of the death
of Virginia Rappe ? Mrs. Crozier should certainly be old
enough to know that it is almost an impossibility to punish
» man who had the financial
backing that was lined up in defense of Arbuckle, and his escape was freely predicted long
before the trial began. While
the courts turned him loose,
there is no reason why decent
people should come to his defense and help further to whitewash him. His films are being
outlawed in most cities, and we
have no doubt Knoxville people
will do likewise. Fatty can
never come back as a comedian.
Every time he tries to get funny
or do anything to make folks
laugh, the ghost of Virginia
Rappe will rise up to plague him.
A higher court than the California tribunal has already passed
judgment on him, and it would
be impossible for him to produce
funny films again. The only
hope for Fatty's existence is to
return to the Los Angeles saloon
and work at his old job of cleaning spittoons.
