The herald., 1898-11-17
SERIOUS CHARGES
ATTACK A POLICE
MANS REPUTATION
Claim He Took Money From Chinese
and Has Made No Return
for It

Attorneys Appel and Phibbs appeared
before Justice Morrison yesterday in the
cases of All Quong and Wong Doe, under ar
rest for gambling.
Attorney Appel stated in his address to
the court that Police Officer Ritch had on
Monday last invaded room in which a lot
of Chinese were enjoying banquet, and
from one of the Chinese had taken a sack
containing sos in money; that Officer Ritch
had not arrested the man from whom he
took the money, nor anyone else; that when
the officer took the money the Chinese de-
manded u receipt from him for the amount,
and the officer refused to give it. The Chi
nese even followed the officer into the street
and demanded a receipt for their money, but
Ritch, who had made no arrests refused to
give them q receipt and walked off with the
coin.
The Chinese waited, according to Appel,
until Tuesday last, to be arrested, and no
warrants being Forthcoming at that time,
and as Officer Ritch, SO far as they knew,
was not intending to arrest them, they,
with their attorneys, voluntarily went to
the police court and asked to be arrested and
also asked about their money. They were
arrested fast enough, but, Appel said, ''the
money was still in Ritch's pocket
This is not the first time, as we will
show" said Appel, that Ritch has taken
money from Chinese without arresting them
or without accounting for the coin. This
matter will be taken before the grand jury;
but what we now ask is that your honor
make an order requiring Officer Ritch to
show what money and other property he
took from these Chinese"
Attorney Phibbs said that he had tried
to ascertain from Ritch how much money he
had taken and had made an appointment
with him, but the officer had failed to re-
spond
Your honor" said Appel, this is not
the first time, as said, that this officer has
been guilty of this sort of work. have an
other claim for $40 against him which was
taken under similar circumstances. We
have some rights here, | think, and l now
ask for an order to compel this officer, who
refuses to give receipts for money that he
takes from Chinese, to come into court and
state how much money he took and what
he has done with it,"
Justice Morrison said that undoubtedly
Officer Ritch had erred in refusing to give
the Chinese a receipt, and stated that he
would issue an order as requested if it was
presented to him.
In the corridor Sergeant Smith overlook
Attorney Phibbs, and heated argument
ensued, the sergeant claiming that the at
torney had misrepresented Officer Rtch,
and asked that Ritch be seen and his side
taken. He said that the money was in the
station and held as evidence, and that Ritch
had never carried it around in his pocket
Later in the evening Officer Rtch was seen
and made the following statement:
THE OFFICERS STORY.
No, did not give the Chinese any receipt
for the money, or any part of the tan-tan out
tit," said Officer Ritch. "For some weeks
past l have been watching the Chinese play
on the third floor of the building at 3091k
Marchessault street, and last Saturday
night broke into the gaming room. There
were dozen men playing, and as soon as
they saw me they began raking their money
into their pockets and making a break for
the door. The Chinese, All Quong, was the
cashier, and the other one, Wong Doe, was
the dealer The dealer caught up as much of
the fan tan outfit as he could, and showed
1t into a safe. The cashier had the money
with which he was banking in little sack
on the table, but he grabbed up this sack. |
snatched it from his hand. Quong suddenly
made jump for the door, and escaped. |
turned and spoke TO the other Chinese. but
he replied that he could not understand Eng
llsh. | took him down stairs to the office of
Fawn, the interpreter, and after learning
his address allowed him to leave. | did this
because it would cause Quong to think that
all danger OF arrest had passed, and he would
come out of hiding. Neither of the Chinese
asked me anything about a receipt for their
money, though, because Quong rushed out
so suddenly, while his partner claimed he
could not talk English.
Il made report of the case to the sar-
geant, and to Chief Glass, and told them
that | had taken charge of the money and
outfit, as | would take the stuff into court
as evidence when the two Chinese were ar
raigned. AS the next day was Sunday, had
to wait until Monday before | could swear
to complains against the Chinese. When |
went to Chinatown to serve the warrants |
found that Attorney Phibbs was talking
with the Chinese. He said that they were
my men, but he had already had them ar
ragned in court. He then spoke to me about
the money had taken from the cashier, and
asked how much it was. | told him that the
Chinese said it was $40. sad, though, that
[ would call at his office about o'clock to
talk with him about that matter, and though
L went, as agreed, the gentleman was not in
Now, so tar as my act is concerned,
was justified, for we have to take everything
that is used in gambling or else we would
not have any evidence. Ii | had arrested
both men at the time that | saw them play
| ing L would have turned the outfit and
money over to the desk clerk, but as the case
was incomplete | took care of what evidence
l had, and placed it in my locker at the sta
| tion. AS to the statement that either of
the attorneys have had orders on me for
money taken from Chinese, that claim is
false, and they know it. 1t is strange if they
have had such an order that they failed to
present it, for they never have presented
any to me-"
Norwalk Notes