The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-01-16
COL. RITTER WRITES AGAIN.
Attempt to Bury His Letter mt Safety
Board Office.

The following is a verbatim report of a
conversation between a reporter and Die
tator Herrick, of the Board Of Safety:
''What is going to be done with the
charges made last week by Captain Rit-
ter?''
Il don't know"
Anything new In the matter?"
NO"
mot a thing?"
mo, nothing"
At that time Mr.. Herrick had in his desk
a letter from Captain Ritter. sent to the
board yesterday morning. in which Captain
Ritter reiterated his charges and said ne
was prepared to prove them and even more,
and that he wanted an opportunity to do
so. Captain Ritter had expected that the
letter would be kept from the public, on
account of its contents, and had taken the
p~recaution to furnish the press with copies
of it.
1t will be remembered that when the
board was to have heard Captain Ritter
on this matter he was Unexpectedly and
unavoidably absent, and sent word to the
board stating the circumstances fully, and
that when the board asked for him
Wednesday morning Mr.. Herrick simply
informed the members of the board that
Captain Ritter had sent word that he was
called out of the city. and did not say that
he had also sent word that the call had
come during the night and was not expect
ed by him, and that he wanted the board
to set another day for the hearing. prefer
ably next Tuesday or Wednesday,.
The letter which Captain Ritter sent to
the board yesterday follows:
Il sent word verbally that / had sud-
1nn1x~ hnnR n DnEfln nj % trxv a.
case and could not attend your meeting on
Wednesday last; but could and would at
tend at a later date. ard suggested Tues
day or Wednesday of next week. 1 make
my living by attending TO business for
clients. and therefore / could not neglect
nor postpone an important matter in court.
There was no case pending in your court
in which | had been called as a witness.
The pretended case that you dismissed with
such a flourish. as [ am informed, of Eli
f.. Ritter against unknown parties, was a
mere sham. You had no such a case be-
fore you. Though there was no such a
case, and cannot be, yet L was willing to
appear at your request. L Will not submit
10 having such Il case stand without ex-
posture. for do not intend in any way to
be made liable for costs. | viii appear be-
fore you If requested on TUESDAY or
Wednesday of next week. | suggest these
definite time so that | may arrange for it.
You have understood from the beginning
of this much-published investigation that
| know nothing from personal standpoint,
but my information comes from others. /
am willing to give you my az
to violations of the law for several months
past. As there Is no order prescribed by
law for this proposed INVESTIGATION. l will
suggest and will follow, whether my sug-
gestion is adopted or not, the following
order:
beginning with the saloon of Thomas
Taggart. mayor of the city of Indianapo-
Lis, Marion county; State Of Indiana;
Maryland streets. From that starting
point | shall call attention to saloons con-
nected with other hotels, to numerous
other saloons of prominence and capacity,
as we'll as lower grades, to winerooms, to
roadhouses. and before / close shall give
you specific Information as to the location
of the winerooms where the drunken girls
were seen in the special case about which
you have been so shocked. with the names
of the witnesses. This last case is shocking
i'm its character. but is not the only shock
ing case by any means, and Is not the case
to which | shall limit Information. so far
as | may have 1t. Meanwhile. while you are
arranging for my examination. you might
pick up possibly a little information from
| Thomas Colbert, superintendent of the po-
lice force. from your corps of detectives
and regular police force, touching these
matters, in your thorough Investigation for
bottom facts as to the. enforcement of the
law in the city of indianapolis"
In speaking of the matter yesterday Cap
tain Ritter said: Il received word by tele-
gram late Tuesday night that a case in
which ! am interested as attorney was to be
tried Wednesday in Portland. and was
compelled 10 take the train that left here
before dayngnl NeuneSCay morning In or
der TO be present l came down to my
office at 4 o'clock Wednesday morning, and
| wrote a note TO my partner. Mr.. Baker. ex-
planning the case, and asked him TO give
the explanation to the clerk Of the board.
which / know he did. The case was one
In which nine attorneys were Interested.
and when it was set and the attorneys no.
titled IL could not well be changed 10 allow
me to appear before the Board of Safety
in a matter that could wait a day or two
without injury TO anyone. i am ready to
fell the board a good many things. and only
want the opportunity TO do So
The Board of Safety will nave a meeting
this morning. at which the letter of Mr..
Ritter will be considered. on this account
the board has postponed the hearing OF
PatTolman Curran, which was TO have been
before the board this morning. This case
will come no Monday.