The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1891-11-18
NEWS OF OLNEYVILLE.
The Johnston Town Council Intends
to Stop the Boxing Contest.
A LIVELY DISCUSSION HELD.
Lawyer Lee and the Rev. Mr.. Rood Argue
the Case-The Council Adopts an Or
dinance - A Bold burglary at the
House OF Rodney Dyer's Coachman.

tents and purposes the Sullivan-Conley
contest will come off in the sweet latter
awhile" as yet unspecified. When 1T be-
came rumored around yesterday morning
that a special session Of the Johnston
Town Council was, on petition signed by
several citizens, to be convened, things be-
gan to look ominous. The matter was
discussed by both sides with considerable
warmth, and, at p. NJ, when the meet
ing was called to order, large crowd had
gathered to hear the decision. President
Bowen opened by reading the petition, and
the Rev. Mr.. Rood arose and read new
ordinance which differed from the first
only in providing for private affairs or
exhibitions, instead of public ones, thus
leaving no room for its passage to conflict
with the statute. This left the way clear
for the Council TO act, as IL was argued
that they had right to act in such mat
ters If thev considered IL expedient.
Christopher M. Lee, counsel for the
club, said: 81 do not think that care TO
add anything to the remarks / made last
Sunday. III the reverend gentleman had
obtained any encouragement in the mat,
ter when he consulted the highest legal
authority in the State, he would present
it as an argument. / still hold that the
ordinance cannot be passed by the coun-
Gil. / do not believe that Mr.. Rood can
find anything to substantiate the fact that
the Town Council can, il so disposed, act
in the matter of private clubs, IL being
the business Of the Supreme Court to act
in such cases,
This has now become fight between
the men agitating the crusade and the
Rhode Island Athletic Club. Morality
has been thrown to the winds. i could, il
necessary, mention a string of names as
long as from here TO Cranston street
bridge of good respectable citizens of
Johnston who are against the passing of
this ordinance. There has been no argu-
ment brought forward empowering the
council to pass this ordinance"
Mr.. Rood followed. "I have no rea-
son." said he, % TO work on the sympathy
of the Town Council. and do not believe
that have entered into this for mercen-
airy purposes" Anent Mr.. Lees list of
names, he said "A petition could be pre-
sented here with the signature of 200
names praying the Codncil TO prevent any
such exhibition,
Perhaps il would be well to submit to
this body the words of the highest execu-
tive power in the State. L went with
gentleman here to-day to the Office of
Justice illinghast, and had the pleasure
of meet.hg there Chief Justice Matteson,
before whom laid the case Just as it has
occurred, His sanswer was that the John
ston Town Council had perfect right to
suppress all such exhibitions, and that
the ordinance should have been passed.
The gentleman, who is here. will corrob-
crate my statement, for he too heard the
same words. The council for the club
would have this body believe that we are
trying to push this petition down their
throats. We are not endeavoring TO sup
prese legitimate athletics, as has been in
sinuated, but we are trying TO put down
brutality. One of the members of the
Olneyville Temperance Cadets was asked
hxvN NJ n1 hAx hn fAlt . h..
of the ordinance. He said he would be
glad if it would 20 into effect, for then
they could, when they desired to, carry on
my exhibition, prove to the satisfaction
of everybody that there was nothing lille
gal in it, Scarcely any, continued Mr..
Rood, of the members of the Rhode Island
Athletic Club belong in Johnston, nearly
all being from the city, and a man who is
acquainted with one Of the members as
told by him that as soon as "a new mayor
was elected in Providence, the club would
would again take up quarters there. We
only ask for our just rights. These men
placed here by the people have authority
TO regulate whether this affair shall or
shall not proceed. They are sworn TO
protect the interests of those whom they
represent; hence, not single man should
hesitate in voting for the ordinance"
Lee again took the floor. Il do not, he
replied, despite Judge Tillinghast's state
ment, but everybody knows that any
supreme judge will refuse to make any
official statemant, for the same point of
law is liable TO come up before him for
judgement, he would be obliged to ex-
press the same opinion in court. Lee
then inquired who the person was that
stated he would be pleased TO have the
ordinance passed, but Mr.. Rood did not
inform him.
Mr.. Rood then asked if il could ascer-
tanned from the president whether the
members belonged in Johnston or not
and whether they meet in Johnston or IN
Providence. A list of the chartered mem
bers was then presented by Stephen
Budlong, and three out of five of the
officers of the club were either residents
or taxpayer in the town.
Considerable discussion was then in
dulged in, by others interested in the
affair, and on statement brought for
ward by one, made by Stephen McMaugh,
former member of the defunct Gladstone
Club. Lee refuted this by saying that that
club had killed itself by internal discus
sion, not by any legal interposition. He
desired the Town Council to amend the
section providing for the subjection of a
petition for license thus DELAYING the
contest for three weeks According to
the present state of affairs, you do not
allow us TO show that there is nothing
wrong in this sparring bout. Let this go
into effect Friday, instead of right away,
and we Will not he averse to il, but will,
with pleasure, come and petition for a
license in the future"
The arguments of both sides were now
all in, and the crisis was imminent. The
audience sat in breathless suspense, while
the members of the body were considering
the matter
Mr.. Colwell was the first TO break the
agony, by saying, IL have, think, given
this matter as serious consideration as
anyone and cannot see how the postpone
ment of the contest, can effect the X l.
Athletic club, IL IL is not carried on for "a
pecuniary benefit" He then made mo-
tion for the adoption of the measure and il
was immediately put to n vote, il being
carried by an overwhelming ma jorlty. Adj
Journment was at once in order.
Bold Robbery.
Several attempts at petty thieving have
recently been frustrated by police vigi-
lance, but robbery occurred yesterday
morning, between II and ~ O'Clock, which
as yet has developed no clues. Circum-
stances 20 To prove that the operator,
whoever II may be, was thoroughly ac-
quainted with the surroundings. IL hap
pened at the home OF Louis Bouruue.
coachman for Rodney Dyer, and lives at
IL Perry street. Bourques wife had lust
Ctaprab ont 10 ,a1I ,,....