The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-08-24
ABiNeT0N RI0L.
Railroad Men Found To Have Started the
Trouble aud Sentenced.

Abingdon, Mass, Aug. A--One Of the
most interesting trials In the history Of
Plymouth county occurred here yester-
day. Division Superintendent John q.
Eanborn, Detective Christopher b. Bailey
and Roadmaster Bryant of the Old Colony
division Of the New York, New Haven and
Hartford Railroad company were placed
on trial as an outcome Of the arrests made
at the riot at North Arlington last week
Wednesday.
, Judge RoHve Of bingham was on the
bench, the regular occupant, Judge Kelley
of Rockland. being director In the cleo
trio road company, which was interested
I'm the war, not being available. The New
York, New Haven and Hartford officials
were represented by Charles II. Choate,
dr., counsel o. the road. In order to en-
able the witnesses, court officers and re-
porters to get in, the sheriff had to clear
the courtroom, but II was Immediately
filled again. William Coughlan, counsel
for the town, looked after its interesta
The Charge
under which the men were arraigned was
As follows:
John @. Sanborn, Chris T. Bailey and Emery
ii. Bryant. together with diverse and other
evil-disposed persons, TO the number OF IL or
more, whose names TO tho com plainant are
not known. on the 10th day Of August, In said
Arlington, unlawfully and riotously did as
semble and gather together to the disturbance
Of the public peace. and being 80 then and
there assembled together, then and there un-
lawfully, riotously. did make an assault upon
one John II. Hollis, and did beat, wound and
otherwise ill-treat the said Hollis.
Before pleading Mr.. Choate asked to be
heard upon a continuance. Counsel
Coughlan put In vigorous protest, and
the result was that Judge Bouve ordered
the case to proceed. Mr.. Choate took up
the charge and cited law cases to prove
that It was illegal, claiming that it did
not plainly set forth the crime for which
the men were to be tried. Counsel Cough
Ian showed that Mr.. Choate knew that he
was counsel for the town, as he had talked
with him about the cases last week. After
Judge Bouve had ordered the case 10 pro-
ceed. Counsel Choate asked for a dis
missal OF the case. ON the ground that the
warrant was illegally drawn. The judge
decided 1t drawn In proper manner.
Tho Testimony.
/, Sheriff Cushman was the first witness
and told his story of the days proceedings
substantially the same as has been pub
Mshed, Road Commissioner Wright's tes-
timony showed that the railroad men
made the first move, Mr.. Brady of the
road brought his men over and he talked
with them and told him to go back with
his men to their legal position oh the rail-
road tracks. Then Superintendent San
born came, and witness informed him that
the feeling was running high. and should
his men attempt to take up the electric
road track there would be trouble, and II
people were hurt the crime would be GU
his head. Sanborn replied, II will look
out for that, young man."
Then the witness was kicked, and upon
looking arc und the fight was I'm progress.
Neither witness nor any of the electric
road or roadmen of the town had made
any move to do work upon tie crossing
and had no men there to do the work The
move was made by the railroad men under
Superintendent Sanborn's orders, and Mr..
Sanborn also took part In the work and
battle.
President E. p. Reed OF the electric road
told of his talk with Detective Bailey and
Roadmaster Bryant on the morning Of
the day of the trouble, and how he and
Judge Kelley, after meeting Of the board
of directors of the electric company,
Served q Notice
on Roadmaster Bryant, informing him
chat the electric road would lay its tracks
across those of the Consolidated, but
would do no damage to the tracks of the
latter Mr.. Bryant stated that the matter
could be fixed up without much trouble,
and asked the electric road people to wait
for the $50 train, when Superintendent
Sanborn and Manager Allen were ex-
pected.
Officer Hollis testimony was corrobora-
tive of the previous witnesses In regard to
the riot, but he created o sensation when
he said that during the forenoon Superin-
tendent Sanborn sent for him aud tried to
induce him to leave the employ of the
town as a policeman and enter the en-
ploy of the Consolidated. He already be-
ing an officer of the railroad police, the
pffer was refused. Officer Hollis was one
of the most severely hurt In the fight
Omcer Russell's Testimony.
Officer Hervey b. Russell testified that
he did not know who struck him first, but
be knew that one Of the men taken off his
back after he was down was Detective
lhS uOWh OuiCSio ulu uObuluk VI
create riot. Roadmaster Bryant was
one of the men who was leader In the
riot, aud took part In the fighting. He
said he was armed with q billy and re-
Solver, and had carried them since ana be-
fore. The first move was made by Mr..
Grady of the Consolidated, and the orders
were given afterward by Sanborn and
Bryant.
Russell said that he used his revolver,
the first time firing into the air, but the
last time firing into the crowd. He did
not fire to shoot any one In particular
only to hit some one, as no thought his
life was in danger from the gang Of rail
road employees.
The Sentence.
After further evidence the government
rested its case. The defense introduced
no evidence, and by agreement the case
was submitted without argument Judge
Bouve said he should like TO transfer the
case to the grand jury, but under the re-
cent law giving jurisdiction TO the district
court, he could not do so consistently with
his duty. therefore he felt the jurisdiction
belonged to him He should have to inn
4 IA A.