Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-08-01
new Light SHED
ON AIL-BREAk
OF R. ]. RITCHIE
Seattle Police Officer Writes
to Star-BuIIetin in De-
tense of McDuffie

GU IN OlNSi LHdl Tie AONBTllSeE IHlEbl
hit at Captain of Detectives McDufie,
Detective Sergeant NJ. J., McNamee of
Seattle has written to- the Star-BuIle.
tin asking this paper to give publicity
to his statement. -e.. 49,.
McNamee came here to take r. ].
Richie and A: Depnter, wanted in
Seattle for alleged gross cheat, back
to the northwest city. Richie es-
capped from the county Jail The
morning paper published an article
the morning after McNamee left for
home, in which McNamee was inyoly.
ed In an attack upon McDufie's con.
duct OF the detective department
AS a matter of fact, McNamee de-
clares, he was more than pleased
with the assistance he received from
McDuf1e and Sheriff Rose. ~... ="
His letter sheds some light on the
inside OF the Richie escape and
shows also that the local police au-
thorities knew that Richie had gotten
away on the transport Logan.
The statement which Sergeant Nc
Nance asks this paper to give pub
licity Is as follows; -.
THE City of Seattle, Washington,
Department of Police,
Editor Honolulu Star-Bulletin, "
Dear Sir:-I have just received
copy of the morning Advertiser of
July and see where il unjustly crit.
cized one Capt. a. McDuffie al. 4 | note
that the article was published the
morning after / sailed from your city.
for home. A newspaper reporter CALI
ed on me at my hotel week before
left the island and wanted state 7
ment from me as to what / thought
about the authorities for letting r. j.
Richie escape from the county jail.
j saw that the man was prejudiced
against A. McDufiie and ] told him
that was not in Honolulu to criti-
CHE anybody and that | was more
than pleased at the assistance / got
from Capt McDHffie and Sheriff Rose.
In trying 70 find r. j. Richie and that
i was there to get Richie and not to
criticize anybody. | gave him pic
ture of Richie which he had repro
duced In the morning Advertiser with
a short story.
The facts of Mrs. Ritchie's inter
view Is that was the only one who
had anything to do with Mrs Ritchie,
as being an old acquaintance of hers
she would tell me the facts of the,
case and | think she did We called
on her with that understanding. / In
terviewed Mrs. r. j. Richie in the
hallway of Oakland rooming house
the morning that her husband esGap.
ed from jail and done all the talking.
With me was Sheriff Rose, A. McDuf-
ne, and Johnny NATIVE chauffeur for
the detective Department.. While y
was talking to her Jailer Asch joins.
ed the crowd. Mrs. r. ]. Richie was
used by me and the party as lady
as know Mrs. pitc ie for some time
and know hert SeSs hard working
woman and ha1 ie misfortune to be
married to 81 g ldrel. The jewelry
was given to 70 iRitchie by me and
dit II as an az friendship to her,
She was short B ioney and you will
ind the jewelry, old BY Mrs. R.
Ritchie in your ctSY Mrs. Richie told
me in the presence of Sheriff Rose
and party that she did give her hus
band the rope TO use in making hi&
escape and also that she was at the
transport dock inquiring when transf
ports would be in. We thought aftef
searching the ship S. s. Logan thai
he did not get on board, but in the
wireless ONCE you viii find that at
later date We did send q message 10,
the captain OF the s. S. Logan stat-l
ing positively that Richie was onI
board and at this time Ritchie is inI
Jail in Manila having been arrested
on board the transport began, and
turned over to the Manila police andI
will be brought back to Honolulu by|
the u. s. government and this state
will try and have him returned to'
Seattle. Mrs. r. ]. Richie was no9
even Swallowed or watched by me OF
the Honolulu police You will find
from the clerk at Royal Hawaiian Hot
tel that Mrs. Richie called on m9
often and that herself and boys were
at the dock on sailing date to bid me
goodbye.
cit is against my schooling as
police officer 10 give statements to
newspaper, but in justice to the Hond
lulu police and especially Capt
McDuiRe + have TO brand the. articlt
OF July 2 IN The morning AdyertiseT
as a lie. also wish TO state than
reporter had no statement from me q
any kind TO be made public or private
as / refused to talk local affairs witt
him. -
Il did not take brass bed fro4
Honolulu or any other kind of furnt
ture P
ssR ]. Richie is wanted in SeattE
for passing a WORTHLESS check for $Tt
on one William Middleton, a merchar