The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-10-22
THIRD
Er)r Ton
3:15 O'CLOCK.
TWAS SUICIDE.
Sensational Testimony toThat
Effect in Court.
Trial for Damages From the Union
Railroad Company.
A Foster Liquor Seller Tells a Strange
Story This Morning.
Trial for Damages From the Union
Railroad Company.
A Foster Liquor Seller Tells Strange
Story This Morning.

The first case tried before Judge Rog.
ers and jury this morning was that OF
Joseph V. gheahan. administrator, VS..
the Union Railroad Company. The
plaintiff, who was appointed by the mu-
nicipaI court OF this city,a administrators
on the estate OF the late Mary Holmes,
brought suit to recover $40, 600 damages
for the death of Mrs. Holmes, which is
alleged to have been caused by the negli-
gence of the defendant company.
The witnesses in behalf Of the plaintiff
testify that on the night OF the 7th OF
August, 1894, a Warren avenue car was
going at great speed along from Crescent
Park to this city, and when this side OF
Morse's Corner, Mrs. Holmes undertook
TO cross the track, coming from behind
some bushes to do so, and was struck by
the car and killed. They also claimed
that the road was very dark on the night
the accident occurred and that the con-
ductor and motorman OF the car that
struck Mrs. Holmes had considerable
trouble with the car before she was
struck.
At the close of the testimony for the
plaintiff, ID. ). Baker, counsel for the
defendant, asked for a non-suit on the
ground that no negligence on the part OF
the defendant company had been shown.
Walter Il. Vincent argued that the run
ming of the car at an unlawful rate OF
speed set up the presumption that Mrs.
Holmes had not time to cross the tracks
even IL she did use due care.
Judge Rogers denied the motion.
The testimony in behalf OF the defence
was OF quite q sensational character, and
one witness swore that she believed Mrs.
Holmes stepped in front of the car with
the intention of committing suicide.
Another witness, who claimed to have
known the victim of the accident for 10
years, swore that.just previous to the day
~ cd ha had haa
sleeping with her 13-year-old child IN
outhouses and had no home. This same
witness said the deceased was . drinking
woman ana I'm 1884 was confined in the
Butler Hospital for some months, her mind
being deranged by reason of injuries to
her head resulting from her being thrown
down stairs by her father-in.law.
The plaintiff introduced testimony in
denial of the statements in regard to the
character of Mrs. Holmes w. Il. Vincent
and ID. III. Sheahan for plaintiff. ID. b. d
w. c. Baker for defendant.
Edwin w. Collins Of Foster, who was
indicted for keeping q common nuisance,
had his trial today. The chief witness for
the Government was constable Wells OF
Foster. He testified to buying liquor in
quantities from 10-cent drinks to q half
gallon from Collins and TO have been fire.
quently engaged in buying liquor. Ac-
cording to this witness story some men
VINO pay e4UU llceuse iees ih tnis V'y,
were not in 1t in the amount OF business
done with Collins.
The defense was that the case against
| the defendant was one of conspiracy on
| the part of Wells, case against Collins
brought by him being settled for large
| sum of money. This, according to Col
| Inns, did not end Wells desire for money,
| as he demanded so more and --on the pay
ment OF it being refused, complaint
against him was again made.
Attorney General Dubois for the State;
Page q Owen for defendant.
Thomas Mitchell, indicted for selling
| liquor to a minor, pleaded nolo conten-
dere, this morning and sentence was de-
ferred.