The San Francisco call., 1908-12-31
SAYS TRAP
OF CUTLER
IS UNJUST
EME IL H NM
HW HNIN
Ritter COntradicts the Police
Commissioner Concerning
Offer of Bribe
Sensational Defense Made in the
Trial of the Former
Saloon Keeper

?" EsTIMONY amounting to a
direct accusation that Police
Commissioner A d. Cutler de-
liberately laid a trap TO Sc
cure en- 6Ter OF a bribe from a man
with no criminal intent was the sab
stance OF q sensational line of defense
made yesterday by Carl L. Ritter,
formerly a saloon keeper, on trial be-
fore Judge Cook for offering a bribe
3 OF $500 to Cutler for a liquor license
The trial, which at first promised 10
he only an ordinary criminal case, has
taken some startling turns.
Ritter Contradicts Cutler
Ritter was placed on the stand in
slis own defense. and the story he told
was a direct contradiction, in many
important particulars. Of the version
OF the affair given by Cutler.
According TO his story. Ritter con
Quoted a small grocery store at Green
vAich and Baker streets near the Pre-
sidio gate, and during the Ruef-
schnstz administration made a number
of unsuccessful efforts 10 secure a per
NIT TO sell liquor IN August, 1907,
with the new administration in power,
such a peenlit was granted. Ritter in
vested eli he had in fixing UP the place,
but in January OF this year the police
E commission had a change Of heart
.and announced that there would be no
renewal Of the license. Ritter ap-
peaIed to the various commissioners,
but was given little encouragement
Alleged Offer to Divide
Ritter said that he had made several
visits to Cutler. and finally handed him
written list OF arguments in favor OF
the granting OF such license. On his
ihira visit he told Cutler Of an agree
snent he had entered into in writing
with Tony Phillips under which the lat
ter was TO have a certain share Of the
profits from the place II he could secure
a license. He said that Cutler asked
him TO make a written copy Of this
memorandum. which he did. It is this
alleged copy which the prosecution
claims was an offer made by Ritter TO
cutler 10 divide profits with him.
Cutler. according TO Ritter, told him
that the proposition seemed fair and
that il he found any one who would
care TO undertake it he would let Ritter
know. The following day messenger
called at Ritter's home with a request
for him 10 meet Cutler at the latter's
Office. Ritter Immediately kept the ap-
pointment Cutler offered him cigar
and then, he claims, asked him if he
could read German, and handed him
the sip Of paper on which was written
in German. How many eggs have you
in your basket today2"
Pays Money TO Cutler
II asked him what he meant" testi-
fed Ritter. and he said, Can you let
me have a little money! I told him ]
could spare 500 and had that much
with me, but he told me he wanted $500
by II O'Clock that same morning. I told
him could get it. and went home and
did so. paying it 10 him in gold SO
pieces. considered Il a loan. 1t was
not 10 me like loaning money TO a
stranger. He was the president of the
board OF police commissioners. and !
looked at him in that light alone. ]
did not feel justified in questioning the
motives Of the president Of the police
commission and when he asked me for
the money just let him have IT,"
The testimony further showed that
prior TO this time Ritter had already
given up all hope Of getting his license
and was preparing 10 close his place
The day after the visit to Cutler he
went at cutters request and told the
latter Of all that had occurred. He
was not arrested. however. until three
days later. Then he declares that no
charge was put against him, but that
he was kept in solitary confinement at
the city prison for nearly a week and
not allowed to telephone his wife OF
his Whereabouts. At the end of the
week he was taken before the grand
jury.
Ritter's testimony was followed by
that OF nearly a dozen character wit
nesses. who declared that the defend
q at was man Of the highest reputa-
sn and integrity. The case was closed
snd the opening argument Of Assistant
District Attorney Cook was made be-
fore adjournment yesterday afternoon.
The arguments will be finished and the
case left in the hands Of the jury be-