The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-05-21

the station for officers TO assist IN tne
capture. These arrived and went silently
into the barn. The door was closed and
the officers waited the appearance OF the
maniac, ,as II was rightly conlectured that
the barn would be the first place he
would visit ia the morning. About 8
o'clock the watching and waiting police
men heard q noise in the house which IN
dicated that Smith was moving about.
In few minutes the back door was
openned cautiously and Smiths head
appeared. lie made a long survey OF
the surroundings and apparently satis-
fled that no one vas about he MADE
dash for the small door of the barn which
was locked on the outside. lie quickly
unlocked the door and pushed into the
barn to fall into the strong arms OF the
waiting policemen. In his pockets were
a loaded Colts revolver and an open knit
which were taken from him and he was
marched Oft 10 the Second station. Later
he was sent to the Butler Hospital for
the insane, from which nc escaped IN
1855.
Some time ago the Gossiper told OF q
case in which the generosity of the late
George w. Wightsnan, then overseer OF
the poor, bad been imposed upon. A
woman went TO him one day and told
en- affecting tale OF want and the suffer-
ings of her little children for lack OF suffi-
cient food. Mr.. WIghtman was moved by
her story aud decided to look into the
case Immediately, but as a temporary re-
lief gave the woman q dollar. AT that
time the Office of the overseer was on the
second floor of the Central police station
on Canal street, while on the floor below
the business of licensing dogs was attend
ed TO. After receiving the dollar from Mr..
W ightman this wCmau walked down
stairs and into the dog department.
where she paid out MIR. Wightman's dol
lar and 10 cents OF her own money for a
dog License.
Lieutenant O'Neil had an experience
somew hat similar but far more affecting.
Some years ago there lived in what was
known as Railroad place off Smith street a
family named Walton, consisting of
father, mother and two children. fhey
occupied a basement and lived in squalor
and want. One day one OF the children,
a girl seven years OF age. climbed on a
passing low-gear unknown to the driver.
In some way she fell off and the wheels
pas sing over her crushed out her life
almost instantly. She was taken into the
filthy place that she had called home.
Soon after the accident Lieutenant O'Neil
visited the place and found the body of
the poor little unfortunate on an old and
filthy mattress, which was oil there was
to lay 1t on. lie then went to the Con-
vent of the Sisters OF Mercy on Davis
street, who at his request furnished the
Lieutenant with clean sheets and clothing
for tho victim. These were carried
to the house ana given TO the parents, and
before leaving the lieutenant gave the
parents money out OF his own pocket
with which 10 pay for food for themselves
and their remaining child. Three hours
later. when he visited the house, Lieuten-
ant O'Neil found father and mot her help
lessly drunk on the floor. They had
squandered tho money he had given for
food for liquor, sand neighbors whom
the lieutenant summoned to his assist
ance, performed the last service for the
dead child which had been neglected by
her besotted parents, and the city paid the
expenses OF her burial.