Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1912-09-07
Officer Ringwood Ac-
Quilted in Kings
land Tragedy.
CHARGED WITH REFUSING
TO RESCUE A FAMILY
chanceman Stemm Also Ex-
onerated of Having Brutal
Iy Treated a Girl.

what resembled a farce-comedy more
than a trial court, Patrolman Robert
Ringwood, charged with cowardice,
and Chanceman Charles Stemm,
charged with using profanity and with
brutal treatment of a young woman,
both of the Kingsland police force,
were acquitted last night by the Town
Council.
The charges were the outgrowth of
the fire a week ago in which Mrs.
Emilio Barbara and her six children
were burned to death in a room about
ten feet from the ground, and within
six feet of the police station, where
Ringwood was in command.
Rocco Pollazzo, owner of the burned
building, preferred the charges against
Ringwood. but he could not testify as
to the actual operations Of the ac-
cused during the fire. His statement
that Ringwood said in the station
house. while viewing the remains
of the seven victims, Why
didn't that man (referring to
Barbara) go in and save his own
family? I was not going to risk my
life for that kind of people" was cor
roborated by half dozen witnesses,
among whom was DIR. John w. Clarke,
who arrived on the scene shortly after
the disaster. and it was he who re-
moved the remains of the victims
Man Still DaIed.
Emilio Barbara, who, with his son.
ha a,trUiNnTa nf
the family of nine. was brought into
the trial room by two men. Still in a
dazed condition, he testified through
an interpreter that after he jumped
from the window he implored Ring
wood to go to the rear of the house
and save his family. Frantic with
grief, Barbara paced up and down the
sidewalk, this fact being one of the
main features of the defense that Bar
bara. instead of trying to rescue his
family, was prancing on the sidewalk.
Councilman Clay asked Barbara:
"Why did not you go into the back
room and rescue your family. instead
of jumping out of the window"
Immediately Chairman George
Smith. of the Town Council, objected
to the question on the ground that
Barbara was not on trial. A lively
argument ensued, which finally had to
be settled by Town Counsel Luther
Schaeffer in favor of Mr.. Smith
The proprietor of a saloon in Valley
Brook avenue stated that about R:ao'
on the morning Of the fatal hre
town character known as Big -Four
called at his saloon and asked Tor
pint of whiskey for the cops The
request was refused and after the f1re
big Four returned to the saloon ana
in the presence of several witnesses
said. "If YOU had let me have thai
whiskey this morning to save one HE,
Won would have saved seven, as IL was
the cop had to go somewhere else Tor
it." it was testified.
Try to Incriminate.
From this testimony Chairman
Smith endeavored to show that King
wood. who was in command OF mead
quarters was not at his post at the
start Of the fire.
The defense denied every single al
legation.
At the conclusion Mr.. Schaeffer
made a motion to dismiss the charge.
This was seconded by Charles Reh-
waldt, the third member of the eoun-
ell. Chairman Smith went on record
as opposing the acquittal
After the hearing Mr.. Smith said
toean Evening Star reporter that the
affair was not ended, because that in
his opinion every contention of the
in regard to Ringwood's
had been proven, and that
the force should be rid Of him. He
said further that he had positive
proof that Ringwood was not citi-
zen of the United States. that twice
he had made application for citizen
shin. but that he failed both times
to pass the examination.
JJpon the adjournment of the meet
ing Ringwood was made hero Of.
Chanceman Stemm was charged by
Rev. Father Thomas j. McDermott
of using broute force in ejecting Miss
Leacia Byron from the vicinity of the
fire. and that when he demonstrated
with Stemm the latter, who was
smoking a cigarette. applied a vile
epithet to him.
Priest on the Stand.
Father McDermott testified that
Miss Byron was about fifty feet from
the burned building when the officer
ordered her to move on. and when
she did not comply with the order
she was forcibly moved.
He did not repeat the exact lam
guage Stemm used toward him. Sew
eral witnesses testified as to this oc-
Stemm, a man of about rs years.
was the first to take the stand in
his defense. He said he ordered the
young woman to move and that she
refused and slapped his face, and
that when he tried to shove her. she
grabbed hold of fence, and that 1t
required all his strength to release
her grip.
AS in the case of Ringwood, ques-
tioning and cross-questioning by
Chairman Smith and Councilman
Clay resulted in bitter arguments, es-
pecially when Mr.. Clay endeavored to
disprove every accusation made by
the priest.
The community is divided I'M
opinion over the decision, and much.
bitterness was expressed on both
sides.