The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-10-02
CARVE THEIR NAMES IN MUD.

| ftoNiucnCc Nouhtyf cmP"hheheu ioi 'ho
septem Der term OF the comwon pleas dj-
vision OF the Supreme Court of the State
OF Rhode Island and Providence Plants-
tions, 10 wit:
ALPHoNso WHITE OF North Smithfield.
JAMES III. MREHAN OF North Smithfield.
WILLIAM MCKEE OF Central Falls.
GILBERT +. EDDY OF Smithfeld.
STEPHEN 1. DEXTER OF Cumber land.
THOMAS II. JOHNSON of Pawtucket.
And we further suggest that Fame be
supplied with an indelible-marking outfit
and be requested to carve Herewith the
above names in a tablet of crystal mud,
so that posterity may poke its fingers at
the names without bruisIng the finger
tips These six gentlemon have won an
unique distinction, a distinction that it
Is difficult TO classify. They cannot be
accorded place in the pages OF the book
of Fools, about the largest volume in
Fsme's extensive library, much as we
might be disposed so TO consign them at
first blush. But we recall that only fools
never change their minds, and IL the dis
tinction won by these haIf-score gentle
men depended on one thing more than
another, it is the changing of their
minds -presuming, of course, that they
are possessed OF minds. At the same time
the antithesis, that they are wise men is
evidently equally untenable, unless the
wisdom that prevails in North Smithfield,
Central Falls, smithfield, Cumberland
and Pawtucket is OF q grade used only for
home consumption, and welding no in
fiuence upon the rest of the universe.
We sincerely trust that we have writ
these six names and the places of resi-
dence correctly. We would not willingly
do injustice to any other six men-or ery
other FIVE towns by an error In credit.
What these six men have.won fame upon
is unique, unprecedented, and should not
be con fused or confonnded with any
other act OF folly ever recorded. These
six gentlemen after giving their con-
sideration (sic) to the case OF the shoot
ing of cte OscEoLA RoTUND Cook by
one DAVID FRoLIcsoME LINGANE and
having agreed with their nine fellow
grand jurymen that the LINoANE party
might be amenable to the law for the
shooting OF the Cook party, and having
permitted their opinion SO expressed to
come before the court and the people, de-
cided thereupon to change their minds
that is to turn on it's axis the thing they
call mind and reveal the other side.
WHITE, OF North Smithfeld, changed his
mind because he "looked over the cir
cumstances" after making his decision,
instead OF before. MEEHAN, Of North
Smithfeld, just gave his mind a whirl
for the healthfulness of the exercise.
MCKEE, OF Central Falls, thought he was
signing Jury list, ora petition for the
relief OF the Armen,ans, or u bond for q
million dollars, or 0 voucher for his pay,
or something Of that sort, instead OF his
opinion-save the msrk!-of the case in
hand. EDDY, OF smithfeld, "thought
the matter over" and then turned his
mind over to keep IT from acquiring bed |
sores from resting too much on one side
DEXTER, OF Cumberland, "looked over
The ground" afterward instead OF before
hand and the ground evidently opened
md swallowed him up. JOHNSON, OF |
thought he had done wrong
In taking sides with a "colored man"
against a respectable man, "a distinc-
ton that is perhaps too fine for any mind
except one that IA built on the principle
Of very wide meshed sieve.
1t may occur to some people that II
these six grand jurymen were given time
and opportunity enough they might in
duge themselves in mental back somer-
saults in some OF the other 81 indictments
TO whi they signed their valuable
names and expressed their so-called opin-
ions. But the audience is probably salts
fed with the holy show they have already
made OF themselves.
The fact about the wretched street
fraous between Cook and LINoANE is
that LINoASE shot Cook with a revolver.
is agreed on chat point. 1t
would appear to be clear that an indict-
ment ought to be brought against LIN
3ANE to learn from trial court and a
ury OF bis peers-that is his peers as the
aw uses the term, and without meaning
inv reflection on the occupants OF the