The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-05-23
FOR PERJURY.
Policemen SWore
Falsely.
Attorney Generals Attention
Called to the Fact.
WILLIAM r. 0'BRIEN AND E. D.
C0AkLEY IN A FIX.
Judqe Wilbur Directed That the Mat
ter Go 10 the Grand Jury.
EFFORTS TO OCONVICTA PRISONER
BY LYING TO THE JURY.
Judqe Wilbur Directed That the Mat
ter Go 10 the Grand Jury.
EFFORTS TO OCONVICTA
BY LYING TO THE JURY.
Tho Judges Singing Words Made
the Perjurers Look Serious.

lnere WAS QeclOeuly seusatlouhi ohu-
ing to one of the cases on trial
in the common pleas division
of the Supreme Court this morning,
and under instructions from Judge
Wilbur, Attorney General Dubois will
ask the grand jury, when 1t meets next
month, 10 consider charges of perjury
against officers William +. O'Brien and
Edward ID. Coskley OF the police force
OF this city.
The case on trial was that OF the State
against Thaddeus Pryor, stevodore,
for carrying concealed weapons. The
testimony introduced by the State went
to show that Pryor, on the mig ht of Dec.
/, 1898, was arrested by officers O'Brien,
Coakley, and Kane on Richmond street.
Officer O'Brien was the fret witness.
He testified to arresting the defendant
and taking from him sling billy and
other traps, and that Pryor claimed he
carried tho billy for protection.
In answer to q question by Mr.. Owen,
who was defending Pryor, he said
that he knew nothing OF any testimony
offered before the police committee OF the
City Council, when it was investigating
the case, to show that officer Coakley had
put the billy in Pryor's pocket.
Officer Coakley swore substantially the
same as did the previous witness in regard
to Pryor having the billy and being very
drunk and boisterous, and further that
O'Brien had q bunch on his head caused
by blow from the billy dealt by
Pryor. In cross examin alton he very
sharply denied that he testified be-
fore the City Council committee on
police that he put the billy in
Proyor's pocket, because it was necessary
TO do SO in order to get case against him
for carrying concealed weapons. All the
questions Of counsel for the defendant
could not shake his testimony on this
point.
When the State rested Mr.. Owen asked
for verdict for the defendant on two
grounds. In the first place because the
Indictment did not charge the defendant
with uplawfully carrying q concealed
weapon, and SO condly because there was
no testimony to prove that the defendant
was not a watchman. The court denied
the request.
The defendant then took the witness
stand. He denied carrying the billy on
the night OF Decent Der 1, 1893, and that
he was drank or disorderly on the night
in question, or that he gave officer O'Brien
any cause to arrest him. Early in the
evening he claimed the officer and he
tofr hn that thpu
did not agree. He also testified that
officer O'Brien struck him over the head
with club, and that he was cut and
bled very freely.
A short recess was then taken In the
case TO await the arrival OF ex-Alderman
Myron III. Fuller, who was chairman OF
the committee on police OF the City Coun-
Gil last yeor.
On the latter's arrival he went on the
stand and had with him q stenographic
copy OF the testimony taken in an in
vestigation by the committee named OF
charges against officer O'Brien for
abusing Pryor. From the testimony
he read the statement of officer Coakley
to the effect that the latter put the billy
into Pryor's pocket because be thought IL
was necessary to do so to get case
against Pryor for carrying concealed
weapons.
Several witnesses next testified that
Pryor was not drunk or disorderly on the
night he was arrested and that he was
arrested and that they did not SEQ him
have a billy.
Officer O'Brien was again called to the
witness stand and he again denied remem-
bering any Of the testimony about the
billy before tho City Council committee
Counsel for the defendant then read the
testimony OF tho officer before the COM
mittee, in which he said he did not put
the billy into Pryor's pocket, but did not
deny that one Of the officers did put il
into that persons pocket.
Mr.. owen began his opening to the jury
with these words: "You are considering
a very peculiar case. The testimony thai
the defendant had the weapon which
he is accused OF cOncesling /,
very weak. You see here mer