New-York tribune., 1922-03-28
Rickard Crilled
About Missing
Lessee of Flat
Under Fire of Prosecutors
Questions Promoter Fails
to Explain Disappearance
of Field, Garden Employee
Wife Supports Ali
Defendant, ON Stand i'll
Own Defense, Denies the
Stories of Girl Accusers

StOrIeS OF Girl AccuserS
Tex Rickard told the story OF his
life yesterday to the jury that is Try
ing him for acts alleged to have been
committed in an apartment at 20 West
Forty seventh Street. The most damag-
ing material developed on cross-exanil-
nation of the fight promoter vas his
reluctance, or inability, to explain the
Disappearance, following his arrest, Of
man named Walter Field.
Field, an employee of tho Madison
Square Garden Corporation. is the
lessee OF the Torty-scventh Street
apartment. According TO Assistant Dis
| trict Attorney Pccora, subpoena servers
have vainly endeavored for two months
to find Field.
"Field has been an employee Of
Pecors, after he had tested Pickard' s
| nerve, temper and memory with scores
OF questions.
"N ell" replied Tex. che worked for
rae few months at Toledo before the
Dempsey Willard fight"
That vas in 1912"
yes
"Then, since you took over Madison
Square Garden he has worked Tor you
"Ycs"
Field Absent From Garden
els ne married OF SINGLE"
/ ~ think he's married.
"Why Go you think eo?'
II met his wife one time
"Ho was away from tho Garcen Tor
some period OF the time following your
arrest?'
believe he was, yes
! "Io" long,"
"a week"
"You mean TO has been there every
Gay except for week since you we're
/ arrosted?"
! Tex aazed at the ceiling for mo-
ment as if tho answer was written
there. Then he allowed that perhaps
Field had been away more than week,
"Now, as q matter OF fact, Field
hasn't been around the Garden for the
last two months, has be-" demanded
! Pecorss
Mr.. Rickard did not think he had
been away that long.
! "You know that he isn't staying at
that apartment, don't you?"
| The defendant did noU know whether
he was.
"You know that he is still paying
The rent, don't you?"
Hickard shook his head negatively.
Court Oyerrules Objections
DO you know whether Field has a
home in New Jersey:.'
Eyes" said Rickard.
"I object, your honor" interposed
| Dir. SteUcr.
''lf lie knows he may answer" ruled
Justice Wssservogcl.
Yes" replied Rickard.
"How, do you know he was IN New
jersey lateiy?'
One Of ny men told me
q Cq o5es pay TS!a s35a;ssJ S;slsTy Id d0s St.Ss soa
"Objection ovorruled," said Justice
Wasservogel.
Richard then explained that lie was
nc longer head Of the Madison Square
Garden Corporation, that Field was
or that company's pay roll, and that
! lie did not know whether he was still
receiving his salary.
/ you made 10 effort to learn why
Yield has ab5cnted himself from
work."
"No, sir"
Take 10 interest in him al all:'
Mr.. Richard SHOOK his head
1t was shortly afte!, this that JUS
/ lice Wassevogol adjourned court, tell
would be able to present the case to
them before the end Of another day.
Wife Upkolds Alibl
Mrs. Richard came to the defense OF
her husband yesterday.
1t was brave proceeding, for she
was in a state bordering on collapse
almost inaudible voice she SAID that
her name was May Rickard, Mr.
Steuer asked her II she recalled tht
last Arnlistice Day and the day follow
ms. 1t was that day, November Il
that was selected by The defense uDor
! which to establish an alibj. More thar
hals a dozen witnesses previously haC
testified IN support Of that alib Mrs
Rickard's testimony was not requiIce
10 strengthen it.
IL was believed by many OF those il
the courtroom that Mr.. Stouer's pur
pose in putting her on the stand wa
a desire TO show the Jurors that th,
defendants wife did not believe hin
guilty. II that vas his purpose, h
probably succeeded. Twice during th
period she was in the room Mrs. Rick
ARD caught her husbands eye an,
smiled upon him tenderly, affection
ately.
One Question by Prosecutor
Mr. Pecora asked her only orc ques
t.on:
"You were quite il or that day, No
vember 12?"
Mrs. Richards lips merely frame,
the words, quite H." Then she wa
excused.
Before Mrs. Rickard was called thcr
had been four character witnesses
Re- Beach, the novel;st; Charles /
Heron. Alaskan newspaper publishe
and salmon Gamer; Eugene Allies, vice
PRESIDENT of the National City Bani
and A. J. Dre1el Biddle, Of Philadcl
pl'is.
"I'm = writer" said Beach, vile.
asked his occupation,
What do YOU write" propoundee
Mr.. Steucr.
Novels began Ir. Beach. suppress
ing grin, plays, stories, magazine
articles, motion picture scenarios"
How long have you known IL. Rick.
"Twenty-four years"
A 10 oil