The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-03-30
THE SOLDIERS HOME.
Investigation Continued Today at the
State House.
CAPTAIN HALL CALLED A TYRANT
Several witnesses Called to oTestify-Owen
Kelly Complains of the Commandanf'
but Not OF the Home as a Whoie-Tes-
timony Of the Other Witnesses

The committee to investigate the
charges against the management OF the
Soldiers Home at Bristol continued the
hearings today on the rising Of the house
of representatives in the senate chamber,
which was nearly filed with interested
persons.
The witnesses were questioned first by
Mr.. Owen aud afterwards turned over TO
Mr.. Allen, attorney for the state board
of soldiers relief.
Owen Kelly made the most charges
against Colonel Hall and the manage
n ent. of any thus far. He had been an
inmate of the home but rad been pun
ished because Captain Hall had found
pint bottle III his POCKET. lie had
picked up glass bottles TO sell
In order 10 make a little extra money.
and IL was one oil these bottles that had
been found. He asserted that Captain
Hall was not fit man 20 be In com
mand of tire Soldiers Home. He would
pass the men like dog on the grounds,
and
Would Not Speak
10 the men or salute them He complained
of not having had decent clothing at times
He had applied for his discharge because he
knew he was TO be discharged. He had nC
pension at the time, but had received on,
since. The bottle was empty when found
by Captain Hall When Mr.. Allen asked
what he was going TO do with the bottle IA,
said he intended To Keep IL and sell III VIII
some others to some rumseller In Bristol. lie
had sold them several times, from twenty -ny'
| 10 fifty at a time. Mr.. Wilson, attorney TO
| committees, aske1 what was in the bottle
| Kelly answered whisky" and in Response
| 10 the question who drank IL said promptly
~ cid" Kelly had no fault TO find with the
| home or the board, but simply thought Capt
| Hall was "A regular tyrant, aud not the righ
man for the place.
| William Egan said he had been at tn
| home about seventeen months. Ills clothing
| had ALWAYS been sufficient but did not al way
| m very we'll The food had always bee
| pretty good. only once they had sour brea'
| for a few days. He wanted his pension
| which was SO a month, and he had two years
| pension coming To him which he did not wan
| the state To take.
| been at the home about nine months. III
| principal complaint beside that of the pension
| matter was that great deal OF troubl
| in getting passes was occasioned
times by the absence Oh oap,a
| Hall, and at some times they could not nm
| him and had TO give up going To Bristol II
| finally decided that he would get along wit
his pension of $40 month and what IA
| could pick up outside, 50 he left the home.
| Sometimes the food had been little short
| Mr. Allen asked the witness several ques
! tions. He answered that nothing was sal
| about an officer accompanying the meI
He said the time from lo TO IL ocloc
was ample time To vote IN
time. The trouble about the short food wa
| since the new cooks came 10 the home, whei
| the meat was spoiled in cooking. lie ha
told Mr.. Foster about the food being shori
He had entered no complaint because he oil
not intend 10 stay long.