Minta Durfee Arbuckle, widow of Roscoe
Arbuckle on the day she appeared in court in a dispute over
her mother's estate. Minta Arbuckle, 57, agreed that because
she wished to preserve the memory of the late film comic, she would
try to settle the estate dispute out of court. Superior Judge
Newcomb Condee thereupon contined the matter of her disputed
accounting for one year. Mrs. Durfee died in June of 1949 leaving a
home valued at $5000 and $250 worth of personal property to her
daughter and a son, Paul, in equal shares. But Averill Cowert, a
granddaughter, successfully petioned she be declared heir to one
third of the estate and objected to Mrs. Arbuckle's
accounting.
Roscoe "Fatty"
Arbuckle is pictured here with his third wife, Addie McPhail
when they were in the midst of life and hapiness. They had just
celebrated their first wedding anniversary when "Fatty" died on June
29, 1933.
At the time this photo was taken, Roscoe
"Fatty" Arbuckle and Addie McPhail, Kentucky beauty and film
actress planned to marry in the fall when the divorce of Arbuckle
and his current wife became final. Arbuckle was directing
comedies at Educational studios under the name of William Goodrich
at the time.
Doris Deane sued Roscoe Arbuckle,
famous comedian and cafe proprietor, for divorce, charging he became
intoxicated at a party and made improper advances to a female guest.
Roscoe
Arbuckle pictured here with his wife Doris Deane, in happier
days. The former comedian appeared in court the week of February 5,
1929 to answer alimony charges lodged by his wife.
Roscoe "Fatty"
Arbuckle was born in 1887 in Kansas. His family came to
California in 1888. He met Mack Sennett and began working for him at
Keystone Film Co. in 1912. He became popular as a Keystone Kop. This
photo of him appears to be a photo shoot of him in costume in that
role.