Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1892-06-14
BOODL|NG METHODS.
Ventilated in Court by a
Former Liquor Dealer.
THREE YOUNG RUFfIANS'
Held i'll $4,000 Each for Criminally
Assaulting Two Old Women.

SALEM, Mass, juno 14-The trial CT
Alderman John II. Bolton of Lawrence,
charged with receiving bribe Of $1,000
TO vote for q liquor license to be granted
to James ii. Weld~s. vas continued In the
superior court here, Chief Justice Mason
on the bench. In arguing In support of
introducing certain evidence of the city
clerk, District Attorney Moody alleged
that when the aldermen struck snag In
voting they separated into groups, and
finally agreed that each Of the six alder
men and the mayor might name five
persons who should have licenses and the
others would ratify the nominations.
Mr. Moody asked who the four alder
men were that voted against Welden
being granted license, and City Clerk
Ahearn of Lawrence, who was on the
stand, said he did not know; 1t was yes
and no vote, On cross-examination by
Mr. Hurlburt, witness said there were 15S
applications for licenses. and only forty
four could be granted.
Walter Rushford of the Lawrence
American testified that he gave Welden a
letter of introduction to Bolton. Did not
know just when IL was written. Welden
did not ask for the letter. James III. Wei
den testified that he had been a liquor
dealer in years past. Was in the common
council two years. Did not know Bolton
until he took the letter from Rushford.
Got the letter Mt Mr. Ford's Office Could
not say when, but might have been day
or two before he went to see Mr. Bolton
perhaps three days.
Witness said he took $1,000 with him the
day he went to see Bolton.
"Where did you get that money!" asked
Mr. Moody.
"Four hundred from one savings bank,
$500 from another and 800 from Mr.. John
Ford on n note"
The $1,000 was all in paper money, said
the witness Found B, ION at his desk;
one man was in the Office Mt the time.
Talked about witness being an applicant
for license. and asked Bolton TO con-
slider his case favorably. Later handed
him Rushford's letter. Witness and Boil
ton went into the hallway, and subse-
quently outdoors Told him he heard no
one was getting n license for nothing
Was willing to give as much as any one
Understood the price to be $1,000.
Bolton said he believed that was what
they were getting. Bolton would not
take it then. but they agreed to meet at z
o'clock. Witness said he had a package
of money-sl0O0-and handed it to Bolton
in paper bag as they walked over the
bridge. Talked about licenses. Think
be said: "If nothing happens, you'll have
n license" Witness stated that he filed
application for license soon afterward
Did not sec Bolton again until after the IL
censes were granted. Saw him Fast Day,
as his house.
Witness began talking loudly about the
licenses, and Bolton told him not to talk
so loud. II asked II he wanted to see me
and he said come next day."
Witness went next forenoon and asked
Bolton if he couldn't get him a job, now
that he couldn't get license Asked him:
"How about the other things" He said
he was too busy then; "come in the after
noon" Went at that time and Bolton
said he had seen man who could fix him
all right on the Job. Asked him again
about the money, and he said he would be
up to the house that night.
When he arrived, he called witness into
the front room, and they sat and talked.
He pulled out roll of bills and handed it
to witness. They counted IL and found
$1,000. Witness put il in his pocket.
Bolton gave witness bottle of whisky
and some cigars. Bolton said he had got
me job from May /, at SIS week." said
the witness. Then he exhibited some of
the identical money which, he alleged.
Bolton gave back to him that morning
Bolton told witness subsequently that
he was sorry to disappoint him about
THAT job"