The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-03-29
RICHARD ACQUITTED
in NINETY Minutes;
APPLAUSE in court
Jury Reports It's Verdict
Early To-day, Soon After
Night Session Ends.
CHARGE is IMPARTIAL
Justice WasservOgel Gives
Review of Testimony in
All of It's Angles.
STEUER HINTS FRAMEUP
Pecora in Summing Up Calls
Alibi False and Insists
Girls Tell Truth.
STEUER HINTS FRAMEUP


acquitted at 1920 o'clock this morn
ing before Justice Wasservogel Of the
Supreme Court of the charge made
against him in behalf of Sarah Schoen-
field, fifteen-year old schoolgirl The
jury had been out an hour and half
The verdict of Not guilty" was
greeted by a burst OF handclapplng
and cheers from the hundred or more
OF the promoters friends who filled the
courtroom. Rickard, standing in the
prisoners dock. smiled for the first
time since he was placed on trial on
March 20. From the courtroom he was
taken to the Sheriff's Office in the
Criminal Courts Building, where he
was congratulated personally by his
friends
Boys" he said, II was never SO
happy in my life. I once shot craps for
$4,000 throw, but the suspense Of
that was nothing to the last hour.
That jury was made up of the greatest
poker faces I've ever seen. They have
my heartiest thanks
Mrs. Rickard Is Thankful.
Mrs. Mary Rickard the promoter 3
wife. when told over the telephone of
the jury's verdict exclaimed, Thank
God - Due to illness she was unable 10
be present In the court room and the
result of the trial was telephoned to he-
by Frank Flournoy, matchmaker at
Madison Square Garden.
Rickard left the building surrounded
by his friends and entered motor car
TO return to his home. at so Madison
avenue, where he will spend the first
night since he was placed on trial His
bail was cancelled by the court on Inc
first day OF the trial and he has since
been confined in a cell in Tombs prison.
There are three other indictments
rending against hiin--those concerning
he three other young Girls-Nellie
tiasko, the corroborating witness: Alice
Ruck and Anna Hess. Max ID. Steuer,
his counsel, said last night. however,
that he had been told by Ferdinand Pc
cora, Chief Assistant District Attorney.
Who prosecuted the case, that the in
dctments would not be pressed his
bail OF $4,000. 1t is understood, Will
lie continued for the present.
As the Jurors took their seats Justice
Wasservogel gave orders that no demon
s;ration should be made upon the an
nOunCcmenL Oh u6 NtIdiSl. DSSpih~ hib
admonition, however. when Albert c.
Hoy, foreman, pronounced the words
that gave Rickard his freedom, the
courtroom was filled with applause. Sew
eral men left their seats in an effort TO
reach Rickard, but were forced down
and Immediately silenced by the at
tendants.
Rickard Feels Appreciation.
-,-,s .a aaoroeta.tor - ~, a
many newspaper men present for the
fair way they had handled the case.
Thank you ALL God bless you - he said.
You've been very good to me-"
Justice Wasservogers charge to the
Jury lasted for an hour and half and
touched upon virtually every phase OF
testimony presented during the week
and a half OF the trial. 1t followed the
end OF the lengthy suinmations made
during the afternoon by Mr.. Steuer and
Mr. Pecora and an hours adjournment
tf the court for supper.
The Justice outlined the evidence
presented by both prosecution and de-
fense and interpreted IL in a legal sense
10 the jurymen. He impressed upon the
fury that IL must decide which side TO
believe In the great mass OF contradic-
tory testimony that had been presented.
He then dwelt upon the alibi defense
that had been introduced by Mr.. Steuer
telling the jury that such n defense. II
established beyond the shadow OF n
doubt, was the greatest proof of inno-
cence. He qualified the statement. how
ever, with the warning that an alibi
defense was extremely easy to con-
coct"
The point made several times during
the trial By Mr. Steuer that credence
should not be given to the testimony OF
Sarah Schoenfeld and Nellie Gasko be-
cause OF their confessed bad characters
also was touched upon. All evidence
drawn from the plaintiff. in such cases
as this. he explained. was usually from
such sordd sources--from persons OF
admitted bad character.
During his summation. which con-
sumed three hours. Mr.. Steuer scored
the prosecutor for the questions he had
asked Ricl<ard. when on the stand Mon
day. about his remembrance OF ever
having been caught cheating at cards.
which he declared to be untrue.
He compared the records, as pre-
sented in testimony OF Richard and the
girl witnesses. Both girls had admitted
10 numerous derelictions Of a moral ma :
ture when on the stand lie then hinted
at frame or bIackmail plot
against Rickard. saying he was the nat
ural target as man OF prominence. or
unscrupulous persons.
Mr. Pecora, In an impassloned sum-
nation Of equal length. combatted the
points made by Mr.. Stcu,r. termed the
alibi defense obviously fabricated and
spurious" and ridiculcd the "insinua-
tions" Of black mail.
Rickard. when questioned about the
ss5.000 crap game, said he played II
with a man named Carstairs In Phila-
delphia.
what the President will See ~ He Goes TO
Al nLa-.1,nih In gundaY'a MaRaxlne. The