The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-03-04

cense TO that place, her sister signing for
her. This she had authorized her sister
to do. Her reason for objecting was that
she didn't like the business which she con-
sidered detrimental TO the neighborhood
and property. 1t was true that part OF
the property owned by herself and her sis
ter was at one time let TO man named
Baxter Tor liquor saloon. She didn't re-
member Just how long Baxter occupied
the place. but thought II was about three
years. They had requested Baxter to va
cate and in order to get him to do so bad
raised the rent OH him twice. This was
done In order to induce him to leave be-
cause the witness and her sister didn't
like the business. They had never had
any previous experience with it. The
Dorseys called to see them three times to
get the witness and her sister TO with
draw their names. The first time Miss
Ahearn and her sister told them they
would think the matter over. They had
never asked the Dorseys TO hire their base
ment for a liquor saloon. The second time
the latter called they said they had the
names OF good many OF the women in
the neighborhood and wanted those OF
the witness and her sister. They said
that IL the Dorseys didn't get license
there Burke would get one anyway. On
their third visit they said they could
bring Mayor Olney and James Freeman as
references. Mr.. Dorsey used such oaths
on the occasion OF the thiro visit that
the witness was going to take her name
off but she didn't do it..
ABOUT THAT AUTHORITY.
Mr.. Wilson-Who solicited you to sign?
The paper was brought to my sister.
By whom?
The fret time she told me Mr.. Hahn
brought ii.
And the second time.
That Mr.. Mcdonald brought 1t.
You didn't see either of these men?
No, sir.
Did you know that paper was going to
be brought?
No, sir.
Then IL you didn't know 1t was going
to be brought how could you authorize
your sister to sign for you as you have
testified you did do?
she signed with my consent neverthe-
less.
The witness further said that Baxter's
rent was raised from SS. 30 a month to SIS
and them from Sl5 to SIS. He stood the
first raise but the second one drove him
out.
Miss Mary Ahearn, sister OF the last
witness, testified substantially the same,
except that she said that Baxter occupied
the basement four years and four months
instead OF three years. On cross examine
tiop Miss Ahearn stated that although she
had lived there great many years and
although there were other saloons in the
neighborhood she had never before
signed a remonstrance. Finally, after a
member of the committee had failed to
elicit some definite idea rs to the time at
which the increase In rent were made on
Baxter MIR. Wilson succeeded in getting
the information that Ii was not less than
three nor more than six months before he
vacated the premises which he had occu-
pied altogether four years and four
months.
THE M'DoNALDs TESTIFY.
Walter S. Mcdonald testified that the
Dorseys had come to him to get him to
use his influence with his father to take
his name off the remonstra nee. He told
them 1t would be useless as his father con-
sidered the business detriment to the
neighborhood and property. He told them
the remonstrance was not against Dorsey
brothers, but against the business. In a
talk with John Dorsey the latter had said
he had such influential friends as Mayor
Olney and said that Commissioner Smith
was asking who were the people up there
who were demonstrating. This witness
stated that the Dorseys were well known
for the careless manner in which they
handled the truth.
On cross examination the witness said
he had heard of the Dorseys selling liquor
from butchers cart, but he couldn't tell
where he heard H., when he heard it, or
by whom the statement was made. He
was equally dense about the at achment
placed on his brothers store by Mr..
Burke, but finally admitted he did learn
about 1t by seeing a sheriff in the place.
Although Mrs. Clark, who owned the
house in which he lived, had petitioned
in favor OF the granting of license the
witness thought he had right to remon-
strate as tenant.
Anat har MonopaId Iobn Il to.t;goJ
that the reputation Of the Dorsey's for
truth and veracity was very bad. He re-
monstrated because ne didn't want his
little children passing the p ace i'm going
TO and coming from school. The Dorseys
told him they didn't want the place I'm
less they had the good will OF the neigh
bofs and that Burke wanted 10 let the
matter rest and he would slide i'm license
there after while
When General " iison inquired in cross
examination IL the witness ever fre-
quented the saloons in that vicinity the
lstter hustled up and retorted: That's
my business. Did McGovern post you on
that. He can drink about as much rum
as any one else. Then the witness calmed
down enough to say he had never remon-
strated against any other place. When
Mr.. Wilson asked If the witness was not
on friendly terms with Mr.. McGovern
the answer was, No I'd like to break his
jaw; and l could do it, too, il / got
chance.
"BILLY" TEsTIFIEs
Billy Mcdonald, the chief pusher In
getting remonstrancss signed, said he OBJ
jected to liquor saloon on that corner
because il disturbed his family and de-
preciated the value OF the property. lie
mad no objection TO Burke or the Dorseys
personally, but to the business. lis son
had run n liquor saloon for about six
years in his building, but he got out of il
about six years ago. He saw enough OF
the liquor business then and didn't want
any more.
On cross exami nation he was asked why
he didn't stop liquor selling in his own
building at the time Captain Costine made
the raid and he said he didn't know
liquor was being sold there. He couldn't
say how long the place had been run
without license or whether liquor was
sold in 1t after the raid. He was certain,
however, that saloon at the corner de-
creased the value OF property because il
disturbed his family at night. He didn't
know, however, OF any one vacating
tenement on account of the granting of