The New York herald., 1922-01-22
VISIT TO FLAT ALLEGED
Two Told of Taking Iodine,
but Doctors Found No
Trace Of Poison.
HINT OF PLOT IN CHARGES
Mistaken Identity One Theory,
p as the Defendant Denies
Ever Seeing Accusers.

George L. (Tex) Rickard, interna-
tionally known sporting man and
present lessee of Madison Square
Garden, was arraigned yesterday in
the West Fifty-fourth street court and
held in 81 900 bail by Magistrate George
w. Simpson on charges Of attacking
Alice Ruck, Is, of 225 East Twenty
ete:i street. Two other girls, Elvira
Ns,az'. IL. of the same address, and
snoa Hess, II. Of 232 East Twenty
nrst street, figure in the case, and all
three are being held on q blanket
charge of incorrigibility by tie society
Gren.
Rickard. who was not arrested until
after he had appeared voluntarily in
the magistrates court, entered a gen.
eral denial to the charges through his
counsel, Max D. Steuer. He insisted
that he knew none of the persons re
sponsible for the complaint. and that
the whole proceeding was a surprise
case was postponed until Wednesday
afternoon at 2 o'clock.
News Of Richards arrest spread
through sporting circles yesterday af-
ternoon with all the speed of a sensa-
ton. The promoter himself was un-
communicative except to repeat that he
knew nothing about the charges against
him. AS he left the Court House Rick
ard chewed at the end Of a cigar and
gave the appearance of man who was
worried, but when this was suggested
to some of his friends the explanation
was offered that any man with Rick
ards interests at stake would be wor-
ried over such charges even should they
be thoroughly disproved.
Gibson Holds the Umbrella.
1t was noted that among those who
accompanied Rickard to court. and who
left with him in a taxicab and oblig-
ingly held the umbrella was Billy Glib
son. another boxing promoter, with
Whom the public has been led to be-
lieve through statements in the sport
ing pages that Rickard was at Odds
There were hints too that Richard
was the victim of a plot to drive him
from the New York promotion field.
Vague as these were indications that
they would be thoroughly sifted ap-
peared in statement issued by Mr..
Steuer late In the afternoon. 1t was:
II was retained by Mr.. I. Howard
Lehman, the attorney for Mr.. George
Richard. to represent him in the charge
that was lodged against him In the
Magistrates Court this morning. Sub
sequent to his arraignment went over
the alleged charge with Mr.. Lehman
and Mr.. Richard and I found that SO far
as they know 1t is absolutely and utterly
without foundation. The situation is
nystifying. Mr.. Rickard is at the pres
ent time engaged in considerable lti-
cation and undoubtedly has number or
very bitter enemies.
1--WE have not UP to this time sue
ceeded in tracing the cause or origin
Of this horrible accusation. Mr.. Rick
erd assures me that he is unacouainted
with the person or persons who make 1t,
and that he cannot conjure any crcum-
stances by reason of which It should
have been made. The matter came to
him as a complete surprise. We shall
cause ii TO be very thoroughly investi-
gated, and as soon as we learn the real
facts will be very glad to give them to
the public"
The story of the alleged relations OF
Rickard with the three girls, as 1t was
pieced together by Vincent Pisarra, SUI
perintendent of the Children's Society,
from alleged confessions made to ma
irons Of the society since the girls were
placed in their care n week go, has for
its setting the famous tower OF Madi-
son Square Garden. where Stanford
White entertained Evelyn Nesbit.
Girls Homes In Tcnements.
The homes OF the three girls arc in
East Side tenements. The two younger
ones are supposed to go TO school in
East Twenty-seventh street; the older
one and alleged victim lives with her
widowed mother and grandmother.
The three girls are chums, and. ac-
cording to Superintendent Pisarra, dur
ing the hot weather last summer went
one day to the Madison Square Swim- |
ming Pool conducted by Rickard. Their
story was that there they met Richard |
who joked with them a bit and gavo |
them tickets for a return visit. IL does |
not appear that the Bonzi girl was pres |
cnt on this or any other specific occa-
sion, but, according to their story. Alice |
and Anna made visits TO the Garden !
Swimming Pool almost part of their |
daily routine.
Rickard. they told the Chldren's So |
ciety agents, occasionally gave to them
a dollar or so EACH and eventually sug-
gested that they go to his office In the
tower for glass OF wine. Then fol-
lowed. according to Pisarra. a series Of |
visits to Rickard by the Ruck and Hess
girls to an apartment at 20 West Forty.
seventh street. where the assault I
charged in the complaint is alleged 10
have taken place on December is.
Their story was that the promoter
gave them the Forty-seyenth street adj
dress on slip of paper and suggested
that they meet him Z re. The apart
ment the girls describ tailed closely.
tho police said. with descr ip,ion they
obtained from the jai Tor 1f au apart
ment occupied by an lHs afo of Rick
ard. Walter Field, who could not be
found yesterday Field formerly lived
at another address q fcw doors away
in the same block. which alao was men,
toned by the girls, but moved TO his
present address last Octoter
Public knowledge 0f me crls' com
nlaint against Rickn rd f,iieveJ the ap-
pearancc early last Monde morning at
Hospital OF ,na Nrck nd Hess
girls. II was after midnight nd they
to the hosptai Authorities that
they were afraid eo nong and had
drunk iodine Exa fual closed no
traces OF iodine iren haf. and last
sunday the girls re1f w. the hos.
fital authorities Eost Thirty
ifth street polio, etal os. l. ,m where