Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-04-27
HOLDS MAN WHO
TRIfDExTORTI0N
RlTCHEY MUST ANSWER IN
SUPERIOR COURT
BANKER TELLS OF BLACkMAlL
SCHEME
Attorney for Accused introduces No
Evidence and Asks Witnesses No
Questlons-Woman Absent
from Court Room

Roland r. Ritchey, who was arrest
ed by detectives several days ago IN
the offices of the Los Angeles Land
company, 1872 Pacific Electric building,
where he was employed as a stenog-
rapher, on a charge of intent to extort
money crom Dr. w. l.. Graves, vice
president of the Merchants National
bank, by sending threatening letters
through the mails to the latter, was
given his preliminary hearing before
Police Justice. Rose yesterday after
noon and held to answer to the SUI
perior court in bonds of $300O
The complaint on. which Ritchey
was examined was based on the eighth
letter he is alleged to have sent to the
banker This letter-one of ten
threatened the life of DR.. Graves If he
failed to place $4,000 in fives, tens and
twenties on the mantel behind For
Sale sign in a vacant house at 2277
West Thirtieth street, near where
Ritchey lived. In this communication
DR.. Graves was ordered to enter the
house unattended, deposit the money
and leave.
DR.. Graves was the first witness.
He told of receiving the letters; of
his placing the matter in the hands
of the detectives and concerning his
two visits to the house mentioned in
the letter of INSTRUCTION"
Visits House Twice
He stated he visited the place on
the date he received the letter. Il
went there to look over the ground, "
said the banker. IT did not enter the
house, but carefully surveyed the
premises; noted the surroundings for
the purpose of ascertaining just what
would be necessary in case trouble
might follow.
my next visit was in strict COM
pliance with the instructions in the
letter. 1 appeared at the place in my
own carriage and entered the house
alone. 1 then deposited a sack con-
tanning $50 washers, the size of $40
gold coins, on the mantel and then
left"
did you see anyone?" asked Dep
uty District Attorney Donnell.
Eyes. l saw that trespasser (point-
ing to Ritchey, who sat in the prison.
er's dock) standing in his front yard
pretending to be irrigating the lawn.
A woman was standing near him, ap-
parently keeping him company"
During this testimony and, in fact,
during the entire hearing, Ritchey sat
with bowed head and downcast eyes.
and his appearance was one of COM
plete detection.
Identifies Letter
William H. Barber, 16 years old, of
1249 West First street, special mes
senger in the postoffice department,
identified the envelope said to contain
the threatening letter as the one he
delivered to some person at the home
of DR.. Graves at 1047 South Figueroa
street April Is.
A. o. Adams, tax agent for the Los
Angeles Land company, testified that
Il. eskl
pher in the offices of the company.
He also described the make of type
writing machines used in the offices
and the ones on which ,Ritchey wrote
/. II. Russell, stenographer in the
prosecuting attorneys office, stated he
made a copy of the threatening letter
received by DR.. Graves on the machine
said to have been used by Ritchey
and the peculiarities in the type as
appearing in the original letter were
identical with the ones in the copy.
Detective Grant Roberds testified
that he and Detective Joe Ritch stayed
at the vacant house at 2277 West Thir-
tieth street all night waiting for the
writer of the threatening communica-
tons to appear. The officers locked
themselves in a closet and about $3.50
O'Clock Saturday morning, April II,
they heard someone enter the place,
and then leave.
Wife Absent from Court Room
They were unable to get view of
the person who entered, but their sus-
picions were directed to Ritchey, whom
they saw on his front lawn when they
left the vacant house, and his arrest
resulted later.
The detective stated that on the way
to the police station Ritchey declared
he did not know Graves or anything
about the letters, but finally he adj
mitted writing them and declared he
did not know why he did so.
The officer also stated that Ritchey
said he did not at any time intend to
carry out his threats.
The attorney for Ritchey did not in
troduce any evidence and offered no
testimony. He did not ask any of the
witnesses any questions.
The wife of the defendant did not
appear in court.
At the conclusion of the testimony
Justice Rose ordered Ritchey held to
answer to the superior court.