Arizona weekly enterprise., 1888-10-13
SOLEMN FACTS.
A CHAPTER OF INTERESTING LOCAL
 HISTORY.
Outrages Perpetrated Under the Cloak of Official AuthOrity---High Handed
 Abuse of Power.


 never been duly recorded in the an nals of current events, which present ci. i.cumstances demand that the pub lie should become conversant with. The plain and solemn facts are recited with a strict regard for the truth, and the records will verify them excepting those of an tnwritten character, of which abundant proof can be adduced to substantiate.
 At about noon, on the 4th day Of last November, it became apparent that the life of the late J. D. Kitten house was rapidly nearing its close and in few hours its sands would run out. But few persons were aware of this sad reality and the people were startled when the announcement was made early the same evening that the will of God was accomplished and the spirit of the good man and kind neigh bor had taken its flight.
 His death was so sudden and un- expected that no preparation was made in his business affairs to meet such an emergency, and his safe con tained large sums of money, aggregat- ing about nine thousands dollars, de- posted by various individuals without taking receipts therefor, besides the money pertaining to the merchandis- ing establishment.
 Early upon the morning of the fol- lowing day, while the tears of grief were still fresh upon the cheeks of the bereaved wife, she was visited by par ties who sought by every power of per ,suasion and even threats, in the very presence of the dead, to induce her to transfer possession of the estate to person they claimed had already been appointed administrator. It was known to these and undoubtedly to the Probate Judge, Levi Ruggles, that deceased had left a will by which the disposal of his estate was abundantly provided for, but this fact was appar- ently ignored. The keys of the store and warehouses were demanded of Mir. F. c. Calderon, the trusted and confidential clerk of MT. Ritterhouse, and when he refused to deliver them excepting upon the command of the widow, the demand for them was made of her. The order for their delivery was issued by Probate Judge Levi Ruggles and the unseemly haste in so doing-almost before deaths rigidity had asserted itself-excited the indig nation of every one who heard of the outrageous proceeding. But the in dignities perpetrated by this public official did not end here.
 The funeral took place during Sat urday afternoon, November 9th, and scarcely had the mourning family re- turned to their now desolate home be- fore a warrant of arrest was served on MT. Calderon, issued out of the Pro- bate court. This gentleman protested that he did not hold the keys de- manded; had nothing to do with them and that Mrs. Rittenhouse was their custodian. In less than an hour later Probate Judge Levi Ruggles issued warrant of arrest for Mrs. Rittenhouse and placed both warrants in the hands of the sheriff for execution. These warrants were received by the Sheriff on Saturday afternoon, less than twenty-four hours after Mir. Rit- tenhouse died and immediately after the burial of his remains. The sheriff was very busy with other matters at the time and did not serve the warrants, which he considered outrageous, until the following Monday, when both Mrs. RitteHhouse and Mir. eatdfefon- conducted
 / TO THE COUNTY JAIL
 Fortunately for them, and unfor- tunately for the conspiracy, if such existed, Associate Justice w. w. Por- ter arrived in Florence before noon of that day and brought the matter to an abrupt termination upon a writ Oi habeas corpus. The petition of the prisoners set forth that they, the said F. c. Calderon and Dolores Kitten house "are and each of them is unlaw- fullyand illegally imprisoned, detained and confined of their liberty by Jere Fryer, Sheriff of Pinal county, Arizona Territory, at the County Jail of said County of Final; That said imprison ment Is under and by reason of 2 commitment or warrant of arrest issued by Levi Ruggles, as Judge of tho Probate Court of said County, which commitment or warrant of arrest is il- legal in not being based upon any judg ment of said Probate Court, or any other court, properly rendered ol
 rendered at all nor upon any com
 plaint duly made and filed as provided
 by law" etc.
 The Court thereupon subpenaeC
 Probate Judge Levi Ruggles to appea
 forthwith and to bring his minute O