Evening star., 1954-01-10
Reuther Witness
Sought After Break;
Attempt on Life Seen
BY the Assoeioted Press

DETROIT, Jan. 8. - Detroit
and Canadian authorities today
were locked in a race with the
Detroit underworld to find Don
Ritchie, a 33-year-old French
Canadian, the fleet-footed "key
witness" to the solution Of the
s. 1948 assassination attempt on
CIO President Walter Reuther.
Ritchie eluded two police
guards at a downtown Detroit
hotel yesterday and is reported
to have fed into hiding in Can
ada.
Prosecutor Gerald K. O'Brien,
admittedly afraid the underworld
would catch up with Ritchie first,
was reluctant to identify the
Canadian as his ''key witness"
Reached at his home, Mr..
OBrien finally told newsmen
that's the witness. It's up to
you if you want to publish his
name-I don't want the respon-
Sibility of putting a bullet
through that mans head"
Four Unidentified.
Mr.. O'Brien earlier told news
men Ritchie represented his case
against four men named as con-
SpiratorS in the 1948 assassina-
tion attempt. The four are Carl
Renda. 35, Santo (Sam) Perrone,
Sc. Peter Lombardo, 81, and
Clarence Jacobs, 48. Warrants
have been issued against four
other men in the case, but police
have not disclosed their identi-
ties.
Ritchie. according to Mr.. |
OBrien, witnessed the shooting
and was one of three assigned
to the job"
In a Stenographically recorded |
statement to police, and released |
by the prosecutor, Ritchie iden-
titled Jacobs as the "triggerman"
in the assassination plot.
Ritchie said he received $4,000
from Renda after the aSsassina-
ton attempt. He said he was in |
the employ Of Perrone at the
time of the plot against Mr.. |
Reuther.
Basis of Arrests.
1t was mainly on Ritchie's |
statement, Mr.. O'Brien said, that |
a warrant was issued earlier this |
week charging the four men with |
assault to murder and conSpir- |
acy to assault with intent to |
murder Mr.. ReutAer on April 20,
1948. Authorities said they had |
other evidence to support the !
charges. but Ritchie's statement |
was the only account of the |
shooting.
Mr.. O'Brien said he doubted |
whether he could convict any of |
The four men without Ritchie's
testimony.
Ritchie was released from the
Essex County Jail December 6
after serving a 30-day Jail term
tor theft. Windsor police said
Detroit authorities first Ques-
Eioned the Canadian whila he |
was in jail. ! ' |
Following his release and his
statement to Mr.. O'Brien and to
police on Christmas eve and on
New Years eve. Ritchie was
placed in the protective custody |
of Detroit police. He was shut
tied from hotel to hotel under |
the watchful eyes of two 20.
licemen to avoid a possible at
tempt on his life by underworld |
figures.
Yesterday Ritchie was housed |
on 12th-foor suite of a large |
downtown hotel.
Police commissioner Donald |
S. Leonard said Ritchie shook |
his two guards while supposedly |
taking shower.
The two guards, Detective |
Wayne GliSman and Patrolman |
"AAA4oAAI AAA OPhos WCIC SuopCIlQCO
and will face trial board action,
Mr.. Leonard said.
Authorities believed Ritchie |
was hiding out in the Windsor |
area. Windsor police described |
Ritchie as "foater" and small |
time thief" His hometown was
said to be Riverside, Ont, a
suburb of Windsor.
Montreal Alerted.
Ontario provincial police, how
ever, broadcast an alarm for
Ritchie's apprehension. They
said a report placed the witness
enroute to Montreal in a car
with his wife.
The disappearance of Ritchie
less than a week before Mr..
OBrien was scheduled to intro
duce his case against the four
at the Recorders Court exami-
nation of Renda Thursday
stunned the prosecutor.
Mr.. O'Brien said Ritchie had