The herald., 1895-05-29
Policeman Accused of Cruel
Treatment
HE BEAT A SALOON KEEPER
The Weekly Meeting of the Police
Commissioners
The Ususl Number of Licenses Granted and
Refused-BiIIs Which Were Allowed.
Other Business Transacted

Another police officer, J. +. Ritch, is
on the carpet, with fair prospect OF be-
ing hauled up before his superiors and
oinched for alleged brutality and other
offenses. The charges against Ritch came
up at the regular weekly session OF the
board of police commissioners held yester-
day. A. NJ. Rawson appeared before
tho board to protest against the proposed
saloon on Center place, on Mott alley, for
which W. A. Osgood has for some time had
an application before the board. The may
or called attention to the fact that several
of the protestants against the Osgood
place themselves rent property to ten
ants for saloon purposes. The chlef at
one time reported no protest against tn
proposed resort the objections to the
place having become manifest since the
application for the license was filed and
reported upon. 1t was developed during
the discussion of the subject that the
license in the case is in reality transfer
and not in the nature OF new permit.
On motion the Osgood application and
all accompanying protests were filed.
A. Raphae's application tor S25 re-
bate upon his license YVES recommended
to be by the council allowed.
The application OF Il. Moreno to he
allowed to act as special officer in Sono-
ratown without pay by the city was de-
MED the chiefs report i'll the premises
being entirely unfavorable to the ap-
plcant.
The application of II. L. White to be
allowed to serve as a special officer with
out pay on Boyle Heights was granted.
The pay roll for May, aggrosatings the
sum Of $3.50 Il, was allowed.
The tender of j. W. HendrIck. offering
to lease to the city certain property for
u branch police station on Boyle HeightS
at a monthly rental of $40 vas referred
to the council. The following was then
read:
70 the Honorable Board OF Police Com
lnissioners of the City of Los Angeles:
Gentlemen: L here with wish TO make
charges against Officer Ritch. whose beat
has been on First street ut night.
On last Wednesday night he entered
my place of business, 929 East First
street. and because | refused to allow him
to use my telephone. he knocked me
down and then arrested me. He charged
me with disturbing the peace, to which
charge pleaded guilty on the recon-
lncndation of Eugene Maxwell and Attor-
ney Crawford. without first knowing they
had personal reasons for thus influencing
me. But this does not make me guilty
OF disturbing the peace. | herewith
charge Officer Ritch First-With forcl-
bly, entering my saloon and after knock
out my consent or wi hes and by force.
Second with accusing me OF drunken
ucss when | was sober. thus preventing
the police clerk from allowing me to give
bail when | had over 500, the required
amount, on my person.
Third, with arresting me out of spite
because l.. Brose. whom he had arrested
few moments before. jumped into his
wagon and drove away, thus escaping. =
| hereby testify that | was wronefully
and brutally treated by the Off Ger, who
in my case acted inhumanly and without
Just cause. | respectfully ask that the
honorable board of police commissioners
look into the charges carefully. and |
name as witnesses Frank McHugh. my
bartender, l.. Brose of Ninth and River
streets and J. X. klahu. 106 Vine street,
who l believe will bear me ont.
The above charges are signed and
sworn to by F.Wamtke. a saloon keeper
at 929 East First street. The charges
against Ritch were referred to Chief Glass
and Commissioners Pirtle to investigate
and make a report.
The board referred the applications of
Charles E. Bernard. corner Comm ercial
AID, corner First and Los Angeles streets,
to the chief.
The application OF George Brown for a
position on the police force was filed.
The application of NJ. l.. Polaslki e. Co.
for the return of sos. an alleged over.
charge upon theiI saloon license. was re-
ferred to the council. The matter was
once before several months ago referred
to that body and is now lying dormant
somewhere without ever having benn
definitely disposed of.