Los Angeles herald., 1906-02-24
ATTORNEY HOLDS
R|LEY'S FATE
AUBLE SAYS IT'S UP TO THE
PROSECUTOR
Chief Of Police Not at Liberty to
Discuss Affair-Asserts That Evil
dence Has Been Turned
over to Authorities

AS the Los Angeles police depart
ment probes the past of Martin r.
Riley, the patrolman suspended on the
charge of extortion, more damaging
evidence to Riley's character is brought
to light.
Riley has a young wife In the city
and the department is informed she
Is sufferer from i'll treatment by
him.
Lulu Spencer, whom the police say
is victim of Dewitt and Riley, is
still incarcerated in the city Jail. The
girl, say police officials, was arrested
by Riley a week ago Thursday.
The Spencer girl is merely charged
with vagrancy. Why the girl is de-
tained is not known. 1t is understood
that the police department has sworn
statements from Miss Spencer and De-
Witt that through Riley an attempt
was made to secure money from her.
and on her failure to pay she was ar
rested.
RiIey's Fate in Balance
Until the commission meets I am
not at liberty to explain or expose
evidence that we have" said Chief
of Police Auble yesterday. "It is UP
to the prosecuting attorney. All that
l can say is that what evidence the
department has has been submitted to
the prosecuting attorney today"
From this statement 1t is under
stood that with the prosecuting at
torney hangs Riley's fate. For a time
1t appeared on the surface that the
police department were not making
much of an effort to secure evidence
in the Riley case, but were devoting
their attention to the prosecution of
Dewitt.
The clog in the wheels seems to be
in the prosecuting attorneys office,
from the investigation of the case
made yesterday. The police cannot be
blamed for being reticent in the case,
as it is known to be a delicate one
throughout.
Past Record Appears Dim
Through information received by the
police department it appears that Riley
was married in Kansas and was di-
vorced from his wife after a short
time 1t is stated that the victim OF
the unhappy alliance was young
girl.
Riley left his home in Kansas and
came west Authorities in Lompoc
say that Riley had bad character and
reports of private affairs have reached
the department of questionable deal
ings laid to Riley's door. After living
in Lompoc Riley came ITO Los Ange-
les.
Riley has a wife in Los Angeles
with whom he has not lived for some
time. Mrs. Riley lives at 615 Lamar
street and ekes out a meager exist
ance by dressmaking.
Wife Silent Through Fear
An attempt was made yesterday to
interview Mrs. Riley She responded
to the ring of the doorbell and ac-
knowledged her identity before she in
quired into the cause of the CALL "I
have nothing to say-not one word"
was the reply when the object of the
call was stated.
The little woman shuddered and
withdrew into the hallway Her man
ner spoke not of discourtesy, but of
fear.
Investigation revealed that Mrs.
Riley was married to the former po-
liceman August g. 1908. After living
with Riley for some months the young
woman left him and, according to the
informal ton of the police, it was be-
cause of his mistreatment of her. Since
that time Riley and his wife have not
lived together.
1t is learned that Mrs. Riley, after
some difficulty, secured a contract
said. to pay her SIS a month or re-
linquish his right to a chicken farm
in Lompoc.
Riley Threatens Dewitt
AS the case of Riley and Dewitt
progresses more damaging evidence
against the former patrolman comes
to the department. Dewitt has been
held to answer to the superior court
and has sworn to statements of evil
dence against Riley which are very
damaging.
In the progress of the preliminary
hearing Capt. Broadhead testified that
Riley threatened to kill Dewitt If he
did not exonerate the former patrol
man.
Dewitt asserted that he was intimi-
dated into extorting money from
social outcasts" and others by Riley.
This statement the department believes
to be true. Dewitt claims that
through their dealings Riley held him
to the work by threats.
Believe Dewitt a Tool
Dewitt claims that he has been the
tool of the former patrolman through
out. Dewitt was arrested on the COM
plant of Edith Hammond early Fri |
day morning. To Sergeants Craig and
Walker the man told the story that he
mad Deen uSeu as the lOOl OF GdbTOlIldn
Riley and did not deny that he had
used the special star to secure
money.
Riley's name is spoken but little
among the rank and file of the police
department. "The boys feel this Riley
business keenly," said an officer last
evening. Everyone knows that this is
a very clean department or has been
considered as such. A thing like this
rrixy all a hlqnk for
wish that 1t was all over"
Patrolman ]. j. Murphy. suspended
Wednesday because Of his alleged con-
nection with the Riley affair, was seen
yesterday. He expressed no i'll feel
ing towards the department and said
that he hoped that the matter would
be thoroughly Investigated. He says
that if it is he will be cleared.
Investigation of this officers rec
ord proves that he has never been
in dishonorable dealings
and has been good patrolman.