Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-04-29
FIGHTING PARSON.'
Lawyer 0sfieId Thus Dubs
Brother" HarkinS.
LOTS Of LYING IN COURT.
Harkins Found Both Innocent and
Guilty Today.

charged with assault on Melvin Sherman
last Saturday evening at the Mission, was
heard. The evidence was so conflicting
that 1t was plain that somebody lied on
the witness stand.
Mr.. Osfield appeared for the prosecution
and Mr.. Barnefield for the defence. Sher-
man was the first witness. He knew
where the Rescue Mission is located and
had occasion to go In there last Saturday
about o'clock. Harkins and several
Others were there. He went to collect a
bill for his brother. 1t was contracted In
May, 1891.
Harkins asked that the bill be sent
down and when Sherman brought II he
said he was not ready to settle and did
not know when he would be. Sherman
ssid he would give the bill to a collector
or have him arrested.
Harkins then choked him and tried to
"mop the floor" with him and partially
succeeded.
Harkins did not give him a chance to
get out. After ordering him out, he
threw him out.
John ii. Sherman, brother of Melvin,
was the next witness 1t was his bill that
Melvin went to collect.
Officer Sweet happened to be around
and caught Sherman as he came through
the door.
John II. Sullivan said he was with Mel
vim Sherman at the mission and his testi-
mony was the same as the complsinant's.
William Lafferty said Sherman did not
have chance to get out after Harkins
ordered him out.
"Brother" Hsrkins was then placed on
the stand.
He did not know Sherman; never told
John to send Melvin down. Sullivan was
not there at the time. Sherman came In
at about 1880. Sherman told him that he
had been lying to hiua for three or fouI
years. Harkins thought he was drunk
He ordered him out three times and Sher'
man cursed and swore. The reason b,
ordered him out was that he used profan,
language. There were three ladies, a Mr.
Thompson and a special officer present
Sullivan andlLafferty were not present
although they swore they were. He said
he never saw ShSnman before that even
ing.
Mr.. Osfield-Didn't you work a month
with him?
Harkins-No, sir.
osfield- Then, officer Sweet, Sherman,
Sullivan and LafYerty liedf
Harkins- Yes, sir.
Ostield-You are the only one who has
told the truth thenf
Hsrkins-Yes sir, | am.
Mr.. Thompson said be often took part
in religious work andwas there that even
ing. 81 guess Mr.. Sherman swore," he
said.
Mr.. Osfield-Dont guess about 1t.
Mr.. Thompson-Excuse me II guess.
II Is natural for a Scotcnman to guess.
am Scothmsn.
He said Harkins used no unusus al force
In putting Sherman out. The service had
begun.
Mr.. Osfield-Are you an ordained min
ister2
wv NV """i VI o"'
c'o'n'
ARE you tne man VINO went 10 tine Zen
'rai rais poiice snort time ago LOOKING
ai'er Dull oog thst had been stolen IRON
your
81 refuse to answer"
The Court said he need not answer, that
the bull dog was not admissa BILE as evi-
dence.
Officer Sweet was recalled and said II
happened at about 7:10. Sullivan was
there.
Melvin Sherman was called. lie
worked with Hsrkins two months. They
were in partnership cleaning out cess
pools.
This closed the case and MIR. Barnefeld
asked that Harkins be discharged, after q
long argument.
Mr.. Osfield's argument was exhaustive
ana during his remarks picked the testi'
monv ior tne oeience pretty well apar'
ana dubbed Harkins "The Fighting Par
son.
Inc court said that some parties
"a q