Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-10-11


reporter. THAT is you have no feel
ing against him."
Absolutely none," said Ritchie, 81
don't know Dick Dodd from dog
Mr.. Richie, / suppose you know the
men said to have been connected with
the case-Durkin, Murray, Indian Joe
Menard, Hamilton, Cameron and
Steyens?" was the next question.
II know one man, Jesse K. Hamilton,
connected with the case. He was my
bartender at the time on Desplaines
street, in Chicago. am not acquaint-
ed with any other, and l never saw
Dodd until l entered the court room
yesterday"
What is your name?" queried the
reporter. rs it Samuel j. Richie or
Samuel j. Bryant?"
My name is Samuel J. Ritchie,"
was the decided answer.
'Mr. Richie, the Courier will print
your side of the case, if you have
anything to say. Begin at the begin
ming and will write it down just as
YOU say it. You may be assured
that it will be printed just as you give
it" said the reporter.
Il have nothing to say" said Ritch-
lie, except that | was brought here
from my place of business in Balti-
more, as being one of the Eldon bank
robbers, and the state proved that
was not l think beyond the perad-
venture of a doubt they proved that"
How long had you been in Balti-
more before you were arrested?"
Il had been in Baltimore eighteen
months said Mr.. Richie.
What business were you engaged
in at the time you were arrested?"
Before was arrested l was con-
Quoting a saloon and hotel, the same
as the Laclede and the Ballingall, on
ly on not so large a SCALE"
did you not institute habeas cor
pus proceedings in Baltimore after
you were arrested?" asked the report
| er.
eyes," said Richie
"Why did you do that?" asked the
reporter.
ITO gain time" said Richie. my
wife had Just come out of the hospital
lit was the ]. Hopkins hospital
where she had been for five weeks
and two or three days. She came out
of the hospital on Thursday and was
arrested on Friday. I do not remem-
Der just the date-some time in May
anyway, and | instituted habeas cor
pus proceedings to gain time; for my
wife to gain strength in order that
| she might wind up the business,
knowing that she would not conduct
| it after l left there. She got buy
er for the place after | left and sold
out"
"You say your wife had been in the
hospital?" asked the reporter.
Eyes and Bob, up there at the Jail,
has receipts for money that l have
paid out. 1t cost me $40 a week. An
derson has the receipts now
Abruptly changing the line of ques-
tioning, the reporter asked, How old
are you, Mr.. Ritchie?"
so am 40 past; / was born June T.
1860"
| What is your occupations"
Butcher" answered Mr.. Richie.
where were you born?"
Chicago
How long did you live in Chica-
go?"
"All my life and left there some
where about November, 1897
Before you left Chicago had you
heard of the Eldon bank robbery?"
81 might have read of it in the pa
| pers, but would not state particular
ly."
when were you brought back to
Ottumwa?"
MAY last"
How many children have you, Mr..
Ritchie?"
"One, 81 months of age"
! when will you leave Ottumwa2"
1--WE will leave at / o'clock tomor-
row.
Mr.. Richie, you have been turned
loose in court of record yet that
/ does not alter the fact that there is
marked resemblance between your.
self and the picture they say is a
| likeness of the Eldon bank robber,
known as Richie. How do you ac.
count for it? Have you double?"
We'll, when they ask you that
question, just tell them that they got
the wrong man; that they got my
twin brother" and Mr.. Richie and a
company of friends moved toward the
Ballingall house bar.
/ A short time after the reporter had
| the above interview written he learn.
ed that Richie was in the Western
Union telegraph Office. He was tele.
! phoned that the interview was ready
for his inspection and if he SO desired
he might come down and read it over
After a short time Richie came with
his attorney, 10 R. Jaques, who read
| it over to him. After few correc.
lions it was admitted to be correct
and now goes as the only authorized
interview with Richie that any OF.
tumwa newspaper has printed since
he was incarcerated in the Wapello
county Jail.
Mr.. Richie, however, desired to
make some additional statements
and they are given below:
II was not given an opportunity to
/ prove that | was not the man. and
had witnesses that would have prov.
ed that was not the man, if had
been given an opportunity to testify
"Do you mean in Ottumwa or Balti
more?" asked the reporter.
Right here today; this afternoon
The state cut everything SO short that
there was no possible chance for me
to get in my testimony"
Attorney 10 Jaques called Ritch
les attention to one other mat
ter and asked him if he could have
l r,1, I, y, -