Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1892-03-26
THE AWFUL PENALTY.
Successful Conspiracy
Against Editor Lee.
HE WAS FOUND GUILTY.
Honest Jnry 0verpowered by Lying
Witnesses and Bribed Court.

Foreman Blaine-Your Honor, despite
the threat OF this court, we have failed to
agree upon verdict.
Judge Arnold Then the court will find
him guilty. Prisoner at the bar, stand up.
Mr.. Lee stood up.
Judge Arnold-You have had q partial
trial and have been convicted In spite OF
the evidence. You are sentenced to go
straight home and get acquainted
with your wife; not to stop at any saloon
unless you ask the court, and never again
to run for the Mayoralty.
Then, In loud, solemn tones, Crier Rogers
sxhorted: "Hear yel Hear ye! Hear yet"
and he did II "in the name of Rhode
Island and the Providence County Savings
Bank"
Thus finished the famous mock trial at
Music Hall last night Of Benjamin F.
Davis vs. Charles A. Lee, before His
Honor Judge Olney Arnold. The
defendant was charged with the larceny
OF a Plymouth Rock rooster, and the pro-
cecds We're for the benefit of Tower Post,
No. II. q. A. Il. The hall was nearly
filed.
c. b. Perry represented the complainant
and A. V. Newton, the defendant. The
indictment charged Lee with the larceny
on December "a of q Plymouth Rock
rooster, valned at $40 and the property Of
Benjamin +. Davis. The jury was then
called and made up as follows:
| Gov. Davis, foreman, James q. Blaine; (;
L.
master Wilkinson, Benjamin Harrison |;
Robert ID. Mason, Grover Cleveland; |;
Judge Isaac Shove, Jay Gould; Lyons
Delany, John Sherman; ex-Mayor Sayles,
William Mckinley; Lieut.. II. A. Stearns,
Benjamin +. Butler; City Clerk sibley,
Thomas B. Reed; ex-Gov. LittleHeld,
| William T.. RUSSELL w. ID. y. Havens,
John l.. Sullivan; Rev. J. J. Woolley.
Belshazzar Goethe Davis was the first
witness and told how Mr.. Lee stole the
rooster from his hencoop. He only sue
ceeded in capturing Mr.. Lees coat but
knew who the thief was because there
was paper in the pocket.
The rooster was brought In on the stage
at this point.
!
with bag on his back on the night in
| question. He followed him to Ned
Thayer's, where he jumped over the
fence, and where he grabbed the defendant
| by the napc of the neck. Defendant hit
him, and witness followed him to his
office, where he deposited the rooster in
the safe among his weekly papers.
l.. l.. Freeman gave damaging evidence
against Mr.. Lee, and bis answers led one
old lady in the audience TO remark that
"he was smarter than the lawyer"
Cheif Perry WAS the last witness against
| Lee.
"What' your business" asked Mr.Lee'f
lawyer.
"Chief of Police"
| "Call that 'busincssS'n
| "Yes," said the Chief.
"Keeps you s-hustling, don't itY"
at does" said the Chief.
"Hustling to keep your Office, l sup
pose, said the lawyer.
Then the Chief went on to tell that he
saw Mr.. Lee with tho rooster at q cock
fight last Christmas, but ho didn't arrest
any body because Mayor Carroll had tolt
him not to arrest anybody unless he 60,
hold of Johnny Adams.
Francis Pratt, Edwin Darling and May
or Carroll testified for Mr.. Lee. They al
said IL ives a conspiracy. Mayor Carol
said he was the Republican Mayor, ant
because Mr.. Lee supported him In hi'
paper in his fight against three Demo
cratic Aldermen, the other side had con
spired to get him In jail.
The pleas Of the lawyers caused gnasb
ing OF teeth and trickling Of tears, ant
the awful charge of Judge Arnold gave
many OF the spectators the nightmare.