Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1922-03-29
TEX RICHARD NOT GUILTY
CRIMINAL ASSAULT ON GIRL
Jury Returned Verdict of Acqual at Midnight After Delhi
Grating an Hour and Half-There Was Some Applause
When the Verdict Was Announced -Rickard Embraced
Counsel and Sad "This is the Happiest Day Of My Life

New York, March 2S.-George L.
C'TeX') Richard international sports
promoter tonight was found not guilty
Of criminal assault on Sarah Schoenfeld,
l5-year-old school girl, by a. jury in the
supreme court. The verdict was handed
down after the jury had deliberated an
hour and half
When the verdict was announced Rick
ard his face flushed. went over to his
counsel, Max D. steuer. and embraced
him
This IS the happiest day of my life, -
exclaimed Rickard.
There was some applause when the
verdict was announced.
After the jury delivered its verdict
Ricksrd was called to the bench and told
that he would be freed under bail, pend
ing disposal Of other charges against
him.
Summing Up for Defense.
Summing up for the defense, Max d.
steuer characterized as preposterous the
story Of the Schoenfeld girl and Nellie
Gasko. 12-yesr-old corroborating wit
ness.
He appealed to the jury to be guided
Ivy the rule of probability, asking if it was
likely that a girl of Is would wish to
leave the amusements of Coney Island
-o come TO New York to be introduced to
p man Of 50 and that Rickard would
'ondle her in Madison Square Garden at
g time when workmen were engaged
here
He also asked II It was probable that
Sickard would invite the two girls to the
apartment at one time so that a corro-
borating witness could be furnished the
state. Of that a young girl at such a time
would show such little interest in what
evidenced in the case of Nellie.
HAS ever a man been more ruined
than Rirkard is?" he asked.
mo man could be. for Richard has
gone along through life on his word"
Mr.. Steuer also criticized Assistant
District Attorney Pecora for asking
Ricllard yesterday "witholt bit of evil
dence." If he had not been involved with
women in other states in the past. He
said these questions had been published
and spread all over the country simply
because Mr.. Pecora had asked them.
Mr.. Steuer's nlea for the defense con-
sumed three hours and Is minutes.
After a recess of ten minutes, Assist
ant District Attorney Pecora began to
sum up the case Of the prosecution.
Plea Of the Prosecution.
Mr.. Pecora reminded the jury that an
aIibi defense whose character was un-
Known until after the state rested its
Ease. could not be controverted by direct
evidence. Il was physically impossible on
such short notice to call witnesses to
,ontrovert the alibi witnesses, he con-
tended
Cross-examination was the only meth
Cd to expose fabrication by Richards de-
tending witnesses, all of whom, he said
we're friends or employees Of the pro-
moter
The weak physical condition Of Mrs
RicSard when she took the stand yester-
day to say her husband was beside her
sick bed at the time he is charged with
having assaulted Sarah was commented
on by both lawyers
Mr.. Pecora said he could not bring
himself to cross-eXamine Mrs. Rickard
81 and agonized as she seemed to be, but
added that If he had, he believed he
could have got from Mrs. Rickard en-