Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-02
COURT DENIES MOTION
NEW TRIAL REFUSED IN CASE OF
MRS. RITrERHoFF.

Judge Kimban, sitting in the United
States branch of the Police Court this
morning, refused new trial on a charge
of unlawful cohabitation, which had
been applied for by Minnie E. Ritterhof,
who has attained considerable notoriety
in connection with her divorce suit in
New York. After hearing Attorney Car
rington on the matter of sentence he
imposed fine of 500 on the defendant.
with six months I'm Jail as the equiva-
lent. 1t was represented by the attor-
neys for the defense that the fine was
too much, and on their earnest solici-
tation and in view of other appeals his
honor reduced the fine to SIS. After a
brief delay the fine was paid.
When the regular business OF the
court was completed Judge Kfmball an
nounced a recess to II o'clock, when the
decision in the Ritterhoff case was to
be given. During the announcement OF
the decision by the judge and. during
maintained a stclid calmness and made
no comment regarding the verdict or
sentence. She was accompanied by her,
mother.
The Jury's Verdict.
The trial of Mrs. Ritterhoff in the Police
Court occurred several weeks ago. and at
It's conclusion jury rendered verdict of
guilty A motion in arrest of Judgment was
made and a motion for a new trial filed
Briefs on both sides were handed In and the
decision was rendered today, the motion for
new trial being overruled.
Mrs. Ritterhoff. who was formerly MISS
Bray of this city, married Alvin T. J. Rit-
tie lhoff in New York in 1897, and, 1t Is said,
they lived together in that metropolis FOR
several years. Finally they agreed to sep
arate and Mrs. Ritterhoff came to this city
fn Ifryn
Heights, d. c.. In March last the police
officers visited her house and placed her
under arrest on a warrant which mad peen
sworn out by her husband. He had heard
that she not acting properly. and after
investigat ting he swore out the warrant FOR
her arrest. When the case came up In
court first jury trial was demanded and
the case was continued until this fail.
In considering the motion for new
trial, Judge Kimban stated that there was
only one ground claimed by the defense
that needed to be considered. That was In
connection with the presentation of GER
tain pictures of the defendant which ap-
peared in a magazine. They were present.
ed solely on the question oil good charac-
ter and were so considered by the jury.
Summary by Court.
The court held that even if an error had
been committed in admitting the pictures
1t was not such an error as would have
altered tne VeruiCt. ne iIau coiiSiueh0u 'i'o
evidence in the case, he said, particularly
the suggestive letters. and decided that the
evidence was sufficient to convict without
the pictures. Judge kimball held that no
reasonable man hearing the evidence and
reading the letters could fail to believe
that she was guilty of the offense. This
view of the case made it unnecessary to
consider the other legal questions raised
by the defense.
1t was announced by Assistant District
Attorney Ralph Given that Edward A. Fin
nacom, the other defendant in the case.
would be brought into court Friday Of this
week for sentence.