Intoxication and chivalry may have led to the demolition of The Ritz jewelry store’s plate glass window around 1 a.m. on Sunday morning, July 21, but cowardice came into play once the deed was done, according to the shop's owner.

Rick Ullis, who has owned and operated The Ritz on Townsend Avenue since 1982, said a witness reported the window was shattered as a result of a fight between two men, one who was “defending the virtue of a virtuous woman.”

Ullis said while one man may have been honorable enough to rise to a woman’s defense, neither was moral enough to take responsibility for their actions.

“They ran like cowards once the alarms went off,” he said.

Boothbay Harbor Police Officer Larry Brown said Sgt. Pat Higgins and Officer Fred Hutchins responded to The Ritz alarm and were on the scene within a couple of minutes.

But, by the time police arrived, both men had fled, leaving a trail of blood. Brown described witnesses as intoxicated.

On Monday, Brown was visiting local watering holes in pursuit of leads.

“This was clearly not a burglary attempt, more a criminal mischief case,” he said.

At The Ritz on Monday, the shattered window was covered with plywood and a thin strip of yellow police tape. Ullis was inside waiting to hear from his insurance adjuster about how much of the damages would be covered, as passersby gaped at what remained of the store’s window display.

“Unfortunately, people are talking more about the broken window than the jewelry,” he said.

Despite the setback, Ullis’s sense of humor has not left him. “It was Boozebay Harbor on a Saturday night after all,” he said, and with a look at the plywood, he added, “If this was New York City, I’d have some street art out there by now.”

Sue Melllo can be reached at 207-844-4629 or suemello@boothbayregister.com.