The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-02-22

Attorney General Dubois and made pub
lie through the columns OF The Narragan-
sett Times, published at Wakefield, OF
this weeks issue, some two hum
dred citizens of South Kingstown
appear to be much incsnsed against the
Attorney General for his action in permit
ting two druggists to plead nolo conten-
dere at their trial for illegal sale OF liquor
recently held at the sitting of the court
at Kingston. This protest, signed by
more than two hundred "citizens ana
taxpayers, headed by Mr.. II. G. Hazard,
Is as follows;
The Protest.
To the Attorney General OF the State OF
Rhode Island:
The undersigned citizens and taxpayers
OF the town of South Kingstown, county
OF Washington, think it their duty to
address you directly upon the recent cases
brought under the liquor laws of this
State, against two old offenders, viz: Frank
Watson and Leander Worden. We feel
confident you do not appreciate the
true state of facts. Hence we venture to
give our views, and hope you will appre-
ciate our motives, and hear TO our de-
mand for the enforcement of the laws.
With your permission, and in the absence
of any request from you, we shall print
this letter In the next issue of The Nara
gansett Times, q local paper, published
weekly In this town.
Some time ago the sale OF intoxicating
liquor in this town to all sorts and condi-
tions OF men women and boys reached
such proportions that it led to the forma-
tion Of a committee OF public safety, an
organization which sought by all means
in its power to check the illegal traffic.
They finally engaged the services OF an
officer to secure evidence against such
persons as continued TO violate the law.
An executive COMMITTEES appointed by he
committee OF public safety was empowered
TO prosecute Offenders when sufficient evil
dence had been accumulated.
When IL became clear to he druggists
and others engaged in this business, that
they were in danger OF prosecution, they
began TO move with their accustomed cum
ing, but by dint Of thorough, painstaking
work, cases were established against these
men, and in every case brought by
the executive branch OF the committee of
public safety, before the grand jury, an
Indictment was secured. Thus far, the
law seems o have been adequate to deal
with the matter. At this point, open
boasts were made by some OF
the indicted persons, that they
had secured the judge and Attor-
ney General, and is only remained for
them to make sure of the Jury.
Many citizens believed that this was
an empty boast, although, some, less
sanguine, feared that there might be rea-
son 10 be doubtful of the issue. AT
the sitting of the court at West
Kingston, holden on Wednesday of
last week, the hopes Of securing justice
received severe blow by your voluntary
act as Attorney General, in allowing these
men TO plead nolo contendere, in spite of
the urgent protests OF men known to you
to be actuated by the best motives
only.
We wish to say as forciblyand moderately
as possible TO you, who were elected II en-
force the laws, that you have committed
a grave error. III you were in league with
the rum element, and had sought TO pro-
tect them you could not have acted
more as they would wish 10 have
you act. it IL furthest from our in
tention TO intimate that you have wished
to shield these men, but we must point
out that this is precisely what you have
done. That they were old offenders was
known TO you, as well as the fact that
subornation of perjury has been resorted
to, to extricate them from their dilemma.
We submit these facts to you, coupled
with the request that you revise your ac-
tiOns.
We understand that time OF the Attor-
ney Generals office has been much
taken up by the trial of one
Keegan. We do not incline to
belittle the horrid crime OF which
this Keegan has been convicted, but we
contend and maintain in all seriousness,
that the crime OF Keegan was one
isolated case, growing out OF the
practice OF the nefarious business which
the committee of public safety
of these villages have been attempting
to curb. The cases were prepared for
trial with the greatest care. There was no
-
ruption should not have been proceeded
against.
We repeat, and repeat IL with the ut
most emphasis OF which we are capable,
that no time sould be lost in proceeding
at once TO the sentence of these men.
We have subscribed our names to
this open letter, in the hope that by
so doing our villages may be put on
record, in the most unmistakabe
manner, as protesting vigorously
against the miscarriage OF justice under
which we are suffering, and as demanding
the thorough and prompt prosecution of
the cases so laboriously and so thoroughly
prepared.
South Kingstown, R. I Feb. II, 1895.
The Other Side.
In the same issue OF The Times in which
the foregoing is printed, druggist Frank
Watson, one OF the men charged with
illegal sales $, and whose plea OF nolo was
accepted by the Attorney General, with
the result OF bringing down upon the head
of the latter the outburst quoted, states
the other side of the case. Druggist
Watson sets forth that when his case
came to trial the Attorney General
allowed him to plead nolo, prime ipally
because OF petition signed by some OF
the town council and other people OF
standing on behalf OF the accused. This
plea, as druggist Watson points
out, means that the accused
will not contend against the
state. And accordingly the court fined
Druggist Watson TO the amount OF 800
and all costs OF prosecution, which
amounted to s2l235, the imprisonment
ponalty being suspeuded subject 10 the