The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-09-14
NEWS OF OLNEYvILLE.
Highway Commissioner John Walch
Fined"
NO sEMBLANCE OF A TRIAL.
Allowed no Time to Bring Forward wit
nessss-Dscapitatsd without q strug-
gie-sustained by Both Republicans
and Democrats, However.

John Walch, highway commissioner for
the town of Johnston. was yesterday, on
a resolution passed by the town council
removed from Office.
The following members Of that body
were present and are now on record as TO
their unfair and unprincipled actions
William Is. Colwell. president; Nicholas
Marks, William f. Waterman, Daniel
O'Brien aud Ethan r. Sheldon. To the lat
ters credit, be it said, he was yesterday and
has been the only member who desired TO
give Mr.. Welch fair deal; John o. Win
sor was significantly absent; Rufus
Harris wanted no part OF the affair, and
he stayed away also.
The first five are the persons who de-
capitated Mr.. Walcb. and they will go
down on the pages OF history as the first
tribunal that ever sat on a case or passed
Judgment on a matter which the Supreme
Court alone has the right TO decide.
The town of Johnston is thrice blessed
in having such n proper decision vested
in its ruling body. And yet this act OF
yesterday has the appearances Of tyran-
nical aud unwarrantable use OF power, as
the right to remove Mr.. Walch does not
lie In them and he is still highway COM
missioner, the choice OF the people.
The meeting was called TO order at 2
O'Clock. President Colwell read num-
Der Of names Of persons summoned before
the boatd to give evidence on the matter.
Only one of them adduced particle of
evidence that there was anything out Of
the way in Mr. Walsh's administration,
and this one was James Davis. town
treasurer The others testified to moth
ing discriminating the accused
He used TO sit on the curbstone, Mr.
Davis said, and watch the men working
on plainfield street. and vowed he could
do alone the work they did all day.
George Wheeler was called. He seemed
TO be particular in laying emphasis on
the fact that thsre We're Sl44 charged
somewhere, at least Mr.. Marsh said SO.
All he knew was hearsay, all that Mr..
Marsh told him. X. Is. Thornton was
next, and he testified to having worked
on highway department. He had bill
against the town which he sold to L. G.
Chadbourne because he needed the money
and couldn't get it from the town.
A. S. Hayden of Cranston showed a
piece of paper containing the names of
Michael Smith, Thomas Lorny. John Lor-
ny, John Cox and John McGorty, and
swore that IL was his handwriting. He
was then dismissed without bringing
much evidence TO sustain the charges
Edwin T. Tourtellotte stated that he
had done some work on the John Alver-
son road, and that Mr.. Walch bad offer
ed to pay him out of his own pocket. Mr..
Bosworth hereupon stated that this was
Mr.. Walch's only. offence, and for this
one act he should be removed from office.
Newton j. Angel stated that he con-
sidered Mr.. Walch the very best commits
sioner the town had ever had.
Isaac Angell's evidence was substan-
TALLY the same. Then came Charles A.
Brown. the defeated candidate. Caleb
Jordan said that he had stood under
tree on Plainfield street and watched the
men at work digging the car track. That
1t took As minutes to load one-horsc
team, that in these were consumed 30
minutes leaning on shoyels, and Is In fill-
ing the cart. He also, with Mr.. Brown
measured the sidewalk and nightly went
to 81 how much had been done.
Harlan A. Page, William II. Dyer and
James Is. Davis, town treasurer, testified.
A recess OF half an hour was then taken
TO allow Mr.. Bosworth time TO get his
witnesses together for an examination.
Mr.. Bosworth could not possibly Offset
the evidence submitted in the trial allot-
ted him. and he said so, but as they were
disinclined to listen to any further post
to prepare his defence, he said that he
would take aud appeal from their decis-
ion and let the Supreme Court decide on
the matter.
At 1885 the resolution declaring Mr..
Walch removed from the position of
highway commissioner was read by Will
liam B. Colwell, and he suggested it be
made motion. The whole body voted
in the affirmative, and .he council ad-
journed.
Indignation all over the town is stirred
up by the dastardly manner in which
Mr.. Walch was used. and $4,000 has al
ready been pledged to support him in
this trial by both Republicans and Demo
Gratis alike, all being disguised with tue
lot of odds and ends now occupying seats
in the council chamber.