Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-07-15
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OSFiElD DISCHARGED,
Hearing Held East Nishts+C harIss E. HiII
to FIJI the Vacancy, -.5.a.

to FIJI the, Vacancy rsdjn1
A special meeting of the Board OF. AL
dermen was held last evening to investi-
gate the charges of drunkenness preferred
against Officer James Osfield by Chief of
Police o. ii. Perry.
Mayor Brown presided and all the
members were present.
The Mayor said that as the city was not
represented by lawyer the Board could
ask any question it desired.
Officer Sweet was the first witness
called and testified that he met Osfield at
II 80 O'Clock on the night OF July Sd COM
Ing over the bridge and he was drunk.
He saw him again at the station In the
same condition. He was staggering and
said he had been drinking Sweet re-
ported the matter to Sergeant Nickerson.
James l.. jerks, Esq, who appeared for
Osfield, cross questioned Sweet.
II was his duty to report any such mat
ter that came under his observation. He
did not go to tie station to report Osfield,
but another matter. When he saw Os-
field at o'clock he was more under the
influence OF liquor than at IL O'Clock.
Officer Murphy was in charge of the sta
tion at o'clock.
He was obliged to report Osfield twice
for the same offence during May He had
been acting as roundsman about two
months and had served a little over a year
as permanent officer.
Officer Thomas Henry, who acted as
as assistant roundsman that night, was
ax.t nx.a M
the morning OF July ith at a bonfire on
Water street. Osfield got into row with
young man and struck him In the face.
This led to general row and both off,
GERS were roughly handled. The young
man Osheld struck was Patrick Ford.
There was no disturbance before Osfield
struck the man.
He saw him three or four times between
I and 2 o'clock and he was worse at
o'clock that an hour previous. When
Osfield came to the bonfire where Henry
was he said: "What do you care for this
crowd? You're all right"
Ford then said to Osfield: "You would
be all right too, Jimmy, If you didn't have
load on"
Osfield then struck Ford. Henry re-
ported to Roundsman Sweet officer
Murphy was sworn. He said when Osfield
came In at 2 o'clock he saw he had been
drinking. Osfield stayed there until $50.
He told Murphy that one faction over the
river misused him. He had seen Osield
two or three times before under the IN
fuence OF liquor.
All the conversation he had with the
| sergeant about the matter was as follows:
Nickerson said: "Tt's funny about Os-
field" Murphy said: ayes; he's been GO
ing 1t again tonight"
Officer Porritt was sworn and said he
saw Osfieid several times during the night
and thought he had been drinking.
Sergeant NickersoD was sworn and said
he knew nothing about the matter only
what was reported to him by Rounds
man Sweet. He saw him at IL 40 and
noticed nothing wrong. Sweet had re-
ported to him several times before the
Fourth that Osfield had been drinking.
This concluded the examination Of wit
nesses for the prosecution and the defence
had none.
Mr.. jerks then made very able plea
and asked for ieniency as his intoxication
was OF a slight nature and besides 1t was
the "Glorious Fourth" and leniency is
always shown that day as was proven on
the morning Of and the morning follow
ing the Fourth when about thirty persons
were released after being arrested for in
toxication.
On motion of Alderman Adams the
Board went into executive session. Upon
reassembling a resolution was read by the
City Clerk discharging James f. Osheld
from the police force.
Alderman Davis then presented an
amendment fining Ostieid $40 besides for
feiting his pay, instead of being dis
charged. The amendment was lost on a
roll call vote and the resolution passed on
a roll call vote 3 to 2, Aldermen Adams,
Miller and O'Reilly voting In the affirma-
tive and Davis and Winters In the mega
tive.
Ordinance allowing Highway Depart
ment to use water necessary In highway
work was passed.
Voted the abutters on Hamilton street
be notified to appear August 3 TO show
cause why commissioners should not be
appointed.
The engineer was ordered to bring in a
grade.
Charles T.. Hill was nominated by the
Mayor and confirmed by the Board as
police officer to I'LL the vacancy caused by
the discharge Officer Osfield.
Adjourned.