Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-01-26
INSISTS RICHARD
CHARGES ARE TRUE
Alice Ruck Sticks to Story, but
Admits She Lies When II
Serves Best
HER MOTHER MAKES DENIAL

New York, Jan. 26.-For more than
three hours last evening Alice Ruck'
the fifteen year old girl who brought
charges of immortality against Tex
Rickard, the sports promoter, sat In the
witness chair in West Side Court.
For one third Of that time. perhaps.
she repeated those charges under the
interrogations Of Ferdinand Pccora, the
Assistant District Attorney, who Is
prosecuting the case. For tho re-
mainder of the long period she under
went gently voiced but extremely
searching examination by Max
Steuer, attorney for lickard.
The result of the whole examination
was the little girl was brought 20 ad-
nit that whenever lie served the
purposes of her life better than the
truth she did not hesitate to lie. Some
Of her lies, she confessed, were inspired
by lurid movies she had seen on Second
avenue.
She had not hesitated. she said, to
tear her clothing as false evidence
that she had been attackcd--by some
other man than Ricknrd within the
last couple of weeks. Nor had she
hesitated to smear iodine about her
face to simulate having taken poison.
Insist Story True
But in spite of these admissions
she still insisted that her story of
relations with Richard over n period
extending from last August until the
first OF this year was entirely true.
So far as ~ went. unbiased hearers
rather felt It was decidedly in Rickard's $
favor. The girl seemed TO have con.
fesscd too many lies TO be believed
truthful ns to this one part Of her
There was another big thing on
"Tex's" side, too. Just after Alice
had taken the witness stand her
mother. pleasant looking woman in
crowd Mt the front Of the courtroom
and, with tears in her eyes and voice,
extended her arms toward the Mag
istrate and exclaimed:
Your honor Please My little girl
has been influenced. She never had
anything to do with Mr.. RIcksrd
Why, Judge. she doesn't know Mr..
Richard. Can't take her away from
here?"
Please sit down, madam" said
Magistrate Simpson gently. You will
be heard later. We will be glad to
listen to everything you may have to
say But your turn is not yet" The
mother was led away.
Accepted Richards Invitation
Mr.. Pecora first asked the girl about
the events of December 1s last. the
specific occasion rs to which complaint
is made. She said she and Anna Hess.
twelve year old companion, had gone.
at Richards invitation, 10 an apart
ment at "A West Forty seventh street.
They had waited outside until he sig
nailed TO them from an upper window.
They then had entered.
First. the girl said. Anna Hess had
gone with R!ckard into a sleeping
room. After few minutes Anna had
come out and she-Alice-had entered
The little witness made no charge of
an assault. Whatever happened was
entirely with her consent, she nd
mitted. Richard, she said, gave her so
and Anna SIS.
The Prosecutor led her back to
earlier occasions. There had been one
or more visits 10 90 West Forty-sev- >
cnth street, close by the house Just
named, she said. There had been visit
TO the tower of Madison Square Gar.
lon. The same thing had happened on
each occasion, she sworc; Richard had
disappeared first with Anna. then Alice
herself had Joined him. He never said
anything much to them on these oc-
casions, she said, except: Nov, BE-
sure you don't tell anybody about this.