Hollywood's first major sex scandal: 'Prince of silent film' Fatty Arbuckle was put on trial 3 times for crushing an actress to death while raping her before jury apologized to HIM for the 'great injustice' in case that caused public outrage

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When Virginia Rappe was invited to a Labor Day soiree hosted by a millionaire movie star at the St Francis Hotel in San Francisco in 1921, she had no idea it would be the last party of her life.

It was during the height of prohibition, and according to guests, after illegally smuggled gin and whiskey had been consumed by all, the party's host Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle allegedly locked Rappe into a private room at the hotel, crushed her with his body weight and assaulted her. She died from a ruptured bladder four days later.

Arbuckle was arrested immediately and charged with murder and sexual assault. Three trials ensued, where he appeared on a downgraded charge of manslaughter, during which time a smear campaign was launched against both him and Rappe. He was eventually acquitted and, in a rare move, he was issued an apology by the court. 

In the wake of rampant sexual misconduct allegations against some of the most powerful men in America, Virginia Rappe's story marks what is thought to be the first Hollywood sex scandal.

Virginia Rappe, left, an up-and-coming actress, died four days after her alleged assault by silent film mogul Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle, right 

Arbuckle reportedly hosted a party at his hotel room at the St Francis in San Francisco, locked Rappe in a private room, and allegedly penetrated her with a piece of ice

Before September 5, 1921, Rappe was an up-and-coming actress living with her long-time boyfriend, director and producer Henry Lehrman.

She had been working as a commercial and art model since the age of 14 to support herself after her unwed mother died when she was 11.

When Rappe passed away, her resume boasted only one major film appearance – in Paradise Garden alongside Harold Lockwood - and a few small-time roles, starring in a few of Lehrman's productions.

One of the many rumors that circulated about what happened between Rappe and Arbuckle that fateful evening in the St Francis Hotel was that Fatty lured the young actress into a room separate from the main party with the promise of discussing the advancement of her career.

Witnesses, however, told a much different story.

Mrs Maud Delmont, a friend of Rappe's, was at the party that evening. Despite the stringent prohibition laws, whiskey and gin were flowing freely – and Mrs Delmont was drinking it. She vehemently denied that the alcohol affected her memory, and testified in the trials that followed that Rappe was forced into the secluded room by the movie mogul.

 Roscoe was arrested and charged with murder and sexual assault - but the charge was reduced to manslaughter for the three ensuing trials 

Though the incident occurred at the height of prohibition, alcohol was flowing freely that night. Pictured is Room 1219, where the alleged assault took place 

 One of the many rumors that circulated about what happened between Rappe and Arbuckle that fateful evening in the St Francis Hotel was that Fatty lured the young actress into a room separate from the main party with the promise of discussing the advancement of her career

Mrs Delmont said that Rappe had three drinks and then began to feel sick – so she went to find a bathroom. When she did, Arbuckle allegedly followed her into Room 1219, locked the door, laid on her until she fell unconscious, then assaulted her.

Rappe reportedly later told friends: 'It was Arbuckle - he hurt me'

What happened in that room is a mystery - but Rappe's manager later alleged that Arbuckle penetrated the young actress with a piece of ice. Newspapers, however, reported that he inserted a bottle of Coca-Cola or champagne inside her.

Mrs Delmont said she heard Rappe's screams coming from the room, and tried to open the door – kicking it repeatedly when she realized it was locked.

'I got angry and kicked the door ten or twelve times with my French heels just as hard as I could,' she told the court, according to a Ludington Daily News report from September 13, 1921.

Thirty minutes later, she said, Arbuckle emerged from the room after Mrs Delmont called the Assistant Manager of the hotel up to the party out of concern for her friend's wellbeing.

'He [Arbuckle] stood there in his pajamas,' Mrs Delmont said. 'He was wearing Virginia's hat. We all rushed in and saw Virginia lying on the bed tearing at her clothes and moaning that she was dying.'

'It was Arbuckle,' Rappe later told a friend – 'he hurt me'.

Apart from those three words, little is known about Rappe's own account of the evening, because four days later, after being taken to the hospital, she died.

Rappe died of a ruptured bladder, which was thought to be a result of the alleged assault in which Arbuckle allegedly laid on her, suffocated her by crushing her with his weight, then raped her

Witnesses said Arbuckle came out of the room wearing his pajamas and Rappe's hat

Virginia Rappe passed away after her bladder was ruptured during the alleged violent attack – a result of Arbuckle crushing her with his 266 pounds of body weight. A smear campaign insisted that the bladder tear was due to complications from repeated abortions, which was disproved by an autopsy of Rappe's body.

Photos taken of the young actress in the morgue show large bruises covering her arms, legs, and stomach.

The evidence led police to arrest Fatty Arbuckle. He was charged with first-degree murder and rape, which was later downgraded to manslaughter, and was denied bail. Three trials ensued, which repeatedly failed to convict him.

When the case first went to trial shortly after his arrest – the newspapers went wild. The media capitalized on the scandal, and papers flew off the shelves. His friends, fans and family were shocked, none more so than his wife, who later divorced him.

The trials were so high-profile that Jerry Stahl, author of I, Fatty, a novel about Arbuckle's life, described him as the 'O.J. of his day'.

'The difference - aside from niggling matters of race, guilt, and innocence - is that, for his "crimes," not only was Roscoe hounded from the top of the Hollywood food chain to the bottom, but the furor over his alleged behavior left Hollywood itself nearly hounded out of existence, victim of a morally indignant, rabidly fascinated, tabloid-fed public.'

Photos taken of the young actress in the morgue show large bruises covering her arms, legs, and stomach. The evidence led police to arrest Fatty Arbuckle. He was charged with first-degree murder and rape, and was denied bail

When the case first went to trial shortly after his arrest – the newspapers went wild. The media capitalized on the scandal, and papers flew off the shelves

Arbuckle was a star – described as a 'happy-go-lucky portly prince of silent film' by the Smithsonian.

He made the nation laugh, and mentored the likes of Charlie Chaplin, Bob Hope and Buster Keaton. Just before the incident on Labor Day, he was paid $1million (worth $13million today) by Paramount to act in nine upcoming films.

However – substance abuse was known to cause problems for him. Following a nasty bout of carbuncle, which is a bacterial infection that causes boils, he became addicted to morphine. When he drank, his positive personality would fade, and he'd quickly become angry, combative, and bullying.

Arbuckle was a star – described as a 'happy-go-lucky portly prince of silent film' by the Smithsonian

Arbuckle's first two trials ended with deadlocked juries. Arbuckle's defense was rigorous: he claimed to have found Rappe in Room 1219 suffering from 'hysteria,' vomiting and trying to take her clothes off. Doctors testified that she suffered from a chronic bladder disease that would have been aggravated by alcohol – pointing to that as her cause of death. 

The physicians who examined her testified that they didn't find evidence of sexual assault. Arbuckle's attorneys questioned the reliability of the prosecution's star witness, Mrs Belmont, who had a criminal history of fraud.

Arbuckle had a strong team of supporters - including his mentees Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. At the third and final trial – the jury only needed five minutes to deliberate. They acquitted Arbuckle on the reduced charge of manslaughter – and issued a lengthy statement apologizing to the actor.

'Acquittal is not enough for Roscoe Arbuckle,' the statement read.

'We feel that a great injustice has been done him. He was manly throughout the case and told a straightforward story on the witness stand, which we all believed. The happening at the hotel was an unfortunate affair for which Arbuckle … was in no way responsible.'

He made the nation laugh, and mentored the likes of Charlie Chaplin, Bob Hope and Buster Keaton. Just before the incident on Labor Day, he was paid $1million (worth $13million today) by Paramount to act in nine upcoming films

After the trials, Arbuckle was largely black-balled from the industry. He was divorced twice and married three times, and is pictured here with his third wife Addie McPhail

Though he ultimately didn't face any legal repercussions from the alleged rape – his personal and professional lives were in shambles by the end of the seven months it took for the three trials to conclude.

He was black-balled from the film industry – not just for the future, but retroactively - many copies of films he'd acted in before the trials were destroyed. He found himself unable to find work in Hollywood – his name was too well known. He tried to change it to something with a better connotation, and assumed the pseudonym Will B Good. Went he realized that was a bit too on the nose, he went by William Goodrich.

His wife, fellow silent film actress Minta Durfee, filed for divorce in 1925, citing the cause as desertion – claiming that Arbuckle had abandoned her. He soon remarried, and his second wife, Doris Deane, also sued for divorce four years after they were married in 1925 citing desertion and abuse. 

After going out to celebrate a six-film deal with Warner Brothers, he had a heart attack at the age of 46 and died in his sleep

He again married in 1931 to film actress Addie McPhail, with whom he remained until he died.

On the day of his death – it appeared that things had been looking up for the disgraced actor. He had just penned a deal with Warner Brothers to star in six short films – and went out that evening with his friends to celebrate.

'This is the best day of my life,' he reportedly said. That night, at the age of 46, he had a heart attack in his sleep and died.

The Arbuckle case launched a movement that was never before seen in American history.

Women protested in the streets – demanding the actor be held accountable for his actions. They rallied, for the first time, against the acceptance of sexual misconduct as a society.