Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1895-04-06
Charges Against Officer
MCCuSker Dismissed.
WITNESSES WERE ABSENT
And the Board Ignominiouslv Dropped
the Case-Other Business.


Aldermen was held last evening, prin-
cipally for the purpose OF hearing the
charges preferred against Officer William
McCusker by William Buckley.
Buckley charged Officer McCusker with
receiving IS week from him as bribe to
allow his lunch wagon to stand on East
avenue since February, 1894.
There was large crowd present and
some sensational developments were ex-
pected, but the whole affair fizzled out SO
quickly that those who were present en-
joyed q good laugh at their own expense
and went home without waiting for any
further business that the Board might
transact.
Mayor Tiepke wss absent and President
Gorton called to order. All of the men,
bers OF the Board were present and City
Clerk SIbley read the charges preferred
by Mr.. Buckley. Mr.. Buckley said City
Clerk Sibley did not read the charges cor
rectly and the genial official went over
them again. President Gorton then asked
Mr.. Buckley II he had any witnesses or II
he wanted to be witness himself.
Mr.. Buckley said that no witnesses were
necessary, and presented q letter to City
Clerk Sibley which was unintelligible to
the clerk as the members of the Board.
The letter mentioned certain dates In Oc-
tober, 1894, but what bearing they had on
the case no one could find out. Buckley
said: ~ could not sign the charges be-
cause had q broken hand"
he then asked that the bearing be post
poned until one week from today.
President Gorton again asked him II he
had any witnesses or wanted to be wit
ness himself. He agreed to be witness
and was sworn, but refused to testify un-
less Mr.. McCusker's attorney put In an
appearance. Mr.. McCusker said he did
not have counsel, and Buckley refused to
state his case.
"Haye you an attorney?" asked Presi-
dent Gorton.
.Find that out later" said Buckley.
President Gorton asked Mr.. buckley II
he had any witnesses and the latter again
asked to have the hearing continued one
week.
The whole affair seemed like a gigantic
farce, and Alderman Thomas O'Brien
moved that the charges be dismissed as
nothing had been proven or even any
testimony presented.
The motion was carried unanimously
and as the crowd went out laughing,
Buckley said: "The charges are with
drawn"
other Business.
A communion was then read fro1n
Mayor Tiepke, stating that as the local
street railway company had begun the
work of abolishing grade crossings by
building the trestle over the railroad at
Humes street, 1t was good time to agi-
tate the abolition OF other grade crossings
ings. A joint resolution inviting the N.
Y, N. II. & II. Railroad Co. to cooperate
with the city in the abolition of the Dex-
ter and Pine street crossings was passed.
Several petitions for tavern, ivIctualling
house, lunch wagon and poal table IL
censes were referred to the Committee on
Police.
Several petitions to Ipay sewer tax In
three instalimtntsswere granted.
David Cohen, N. Newton, Simon Mar
tinzi, A. Max and Isaac Abraham were
granted junk dealers licenses.
Claim of william A. Smith for 800 dam
ages, the result Of his wife falling on the
sidewalk on Main street in front Of G. f.
Henry's store, was referred to the Com
mittee on Claims.
Petition of Peter jackson to keep his
bakery at 81 East auenue open on Sunday
mornings was referred to the Committee
on Police.
Claim OF Neil j. Houston for $500 for
damage done to his property by the grad
ing Of Sisson street was referred to the
Committee on Claims.
Ordinance appropr iating $500 for a
sewer In the Old Boston road was referred
to the Committee on Sewers.
Joint resolution to accept S100 In trus
for the care Of the burial lot Of Alfred OF
Balkcom in Oak Grove cemetery was
referred to the Committee on Cemeteries
Joint resolution authorizing the COM
mittee on City Property to sarrange for
painting the interior and exterior OF the
ward rooms and City Hall was passed.
Ordinance appropriating $1,000 for the
Improvement OF Allen avenue from Broad
way to Cottage street was passed.
Ordinace appropriating $1,000 for the
improvement OF Humes street to the land
of the N. Y, N. II. q III. railroad was
passed.
Ordinance appropriating $4,000 for the
Committee on Finance.
Ordinance appropriatipg $4,000 for the
purchase OF block paying was laid on the
table and the Committee on Streets and
Bridges ordered to bring In an estimate OF
Tue CObt Oi pasius CASh"nBo osAe~S 'Ao'
the bridge to Broacwiy.
Ordinance appropriating $500 for the
improvement of Dunnell avenue from
Hilton to Magill streets was referred to
the Committee on Finance.
Ordinance arpropriating $1,000 for tho
Improvement of Wayland avenue from
West avenue to Main street was referred
to the same committee.
It was voted that the abuttors on Wsy-
land and Dunnell avenues and Buffum
street be ordered to appear at the meet
ing April "a to show cause why the streets
should not be curbed.
II was voted to meet asa Board vi
Abatement April 10.
Aldermen Thomas O'Brien and Perrin
were appointed . committee to revise
the jury list. Adjourned.