The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-06-14
The Wound From Which
Rittman is Suffering.
Police Do Not Believe Story
Told by EX-COnStable.
Was in the Habit OF Spying Couples
on Outskirts of City.

Frank NJ. Rittman. tho ex constable
who was shot In the abdomen, near tho
Concord schoolhouse in the town of John
ston at 10 O'Clock Saturday night, is very
weak in the Rhode Island Hospital and
there is little hope of his recovery. The
physicians at the hospital have probed for
.he bullet, but they are unable 10 find IL
because or the danger from internal
hemorrhages. The bullet entered the
abdomen short distance below and To
tho left OF the navel and penetrated on
nearly level course. 1t is supposed to be
located near the spinal yertebrae
Tho victim of the shooting will not tell
the truth about the occurrence, but the
police OF this city have a theory which
they believe Is not far from the truth.
They insinuate that Rittman might have
been engaged in better business than he
was at the time of the shooting. They say
that he had habit of following couples
In the outskirts of the city and that
Saturday evening he interfered with the
wrong individuals Rittman suddenly
appeared where he was not expected and
In the quarrel which ensued he received
the wound that Will probably prove fatal.
The police are also OF the opinion that
Rittman fired u shot from his pistol at the
man who shot him, and that the circum-
stance OF tho affair forms reason for
Rittman's silence on the whole transac-
tion.
!t is also alleged by the police that Ritz
man, who had n constables badge did
not always use it in proper way and that
when he had the opportunity he was
rather severe on those who had made
themselves liable to the law. Town
Sergeant Holbrook of Johnston does not
believe Rittman's story Of the shooting
and the police of tho Seventh station are
also skeptical. They have their own ideas
OF how th4 affair happened and feel quite
sure that the men involved in the shoot
ing Will be arrested.
Rttman says that he started from his
home, 700 Cranston street, where his wife
and two children reside, about O'Clock,
TO call on a friend named White who lives
near the Concord schoolhouse, Just over
the line in the town of Johnston. He
walked homo with "a niece who lives on
Waldo street, and then went across lots
to the schoolbouse, where he was found
by Seth ID. Capwell, and man named
kylander. who live on Providence sire ct,
Johnston. The shooting took place about
$3.50 o'clock.
Rittman claims that he was shot by one
of two men he met He saw the flash
of the pistol and then felt the pain of the
wound In his abdomen. He laid on the
ground for considerable time before he
was found MIR. Capwell put the wounded
man in his wagon and took HIM to Fen
ner's drug store, where he remained for a
few minutes, and then walked across the
street 70 his home. Subsequently no Was
taken to the hospital.
Rittman formerly worked as engineer
at the pumping station at Sassa1ras Point.
he took out constable's badge SO that
he could have authority to carry re-
volver After this he was employed in
Worcester, where no was injured in an &C
cident After leaving the hospital at
Worcester he came to this CITY, and has
not been prominently heard of until this
peculiar shooting.