Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-08-18
A LONG TRIAL ENDED.
The Rev. Mr.. Thompson
Found Guilty.
THE PROSECUTORS CHARGE
The Defendant Denied the Right Of
Questioning in His Behalf.

BRocKroN, Mass, Aug. l8.-The 18th
and final session Of the now celebrated
trial of Rev. n. b. Thompson Of the South
Congregational church, Campello, opened
last evening In spite of the heavy rain
storm there was the largest attendance Of
any night since the opening Of the trial.
B. L. Boomer, prominent member of the
church. occupied q seat beside Mrs. LII
han Swift.
Warren Copeland began his argument
for the prosecution. He said, II am not
. prosecutor, as a typographical error in
the press has made IL appear, and the
church is not a prosecutor. 1t shrank like
q umid girl from the work, but stern duty
demanded an investigation. The plea OF
the defence has been heard and It beoomes
my duty to show that the charges have
been sustained"
Mr.. Copeland reviewed Mr.. and Mrs. AL
den's statements, and said that under
oath Alden had recalled his
Previous Rstraction.
He con ntinueds "A Portland hackman
took the couple from the Portland boat to
the Preble House. and the man stepped to
the register and wrote II. 9. Newton, Hol-
brook, Mass. Who is II. c. Newtoni
Your committee has secured Holbrook to
find H. @. Newton, but has proved that
nc person ever lived there by that name.
"Mr. Thompson was not ready to nelp
the church to find this man. Would you
have done 30 IL you had been In
his place and was innocenti Mr.. Thomp-
son has stated from the public platform
OF this city, I am IN innocent man. but
the bluff game did not work and he tried
to make IL appear through the testimony
Of DR.. Locke that H. c. Newton had been
found, but 1t was not done, and the
startling revelations promised by hi m did
not materialize.
'The whole proc1 ,ding was bluff and
fraud and Ii. G. Newton, Holbrook, Mass,
has been proved to be j. Ii. Newton OF
South Boston. The evidence has proved
that no such person exists. Was the name
used falsely ip the hotel register to con-
ceal some factf"
Mr.. Copeland concluded by asking the
church to weigh carefully the evidence
brought before it,
Mr.. Thompson Not Allowed to Question.
The moderator then denied Mr. Thomp-
son the right to ask Mr.. Copeland any
questions regarding misstatements made
by the latter, Mr.. Thompson claiming
that Mr.. Copeland had made statemen
outside Of the line Of evidence. Myron 4
Keith moved that the church proceed to
ballot. Seconded by George @. Keith.
At $50 the church proceeded to ballot
on the three charges-each charge sepa-
rately-printed ballots being furnished.
On the first charge the vote stood 130 for
conviction, 90 for aoquittal. 8 scattering
the scattering ballots being marked both
yes aud no. On the second charge the
vote stood 1l8 for conviction, 70 for nc
quittsl, and 9 scattering. On the thir |
charge, 1877 for conviction, 90 for acQuittal,
B scattering.
The scattering votes were probably cast
by people who did not wish to vote either
way, as the moderator carefully explained
the way to vote after each ballot. Eighty
men and 116 women voted There were
100 church members present out Of a mem
bapahip ~ 2un