The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-03-31
States Case is Considered
Very Strong.
Main Evidence for Prosecution
Furnished at Noon.
Gen. Wilson's Opening Statement to
Jury--An Exciting Moment.

OF even a more interesting nature than
that given yesterday.
Attorney General T.. c. Dubois an
nounced shortly before 1890 o'clock,
after ex-Chief OF Police Childs had testi-
fed, that the State rested. 1t was gem
orally admitted that the State had intro
duced strong case. Before the noon re-
cess General Wilson began his opening
argument for the defence and he outlined
the defence in a manner that showed il
had been most carefully prepared.
William Gardner was the first witness
this morning; testified that he heard four
shots, but saw only one fired. Cook had
nothing in his hands until after Lingare
had fred his pistol.
that on the 18th Of December, 1894. he
was clerk In the employ OF Colonel Goff,
ana when the shooting took place he was
standing In front OF Pope's gun store.
Two shots were fired by Lingane and then
Cook used his hands. Lingane was about
six feet away when the shooting took
place.
When these few statements had been
made by Fuller there was pause and it
was believed that the Attorney General
had concluded his examins tion, but in
few seconds the States prosecuting officer
asked few additional questions that
came pretty near causing a sensation in
the courtroom.
One of these questions related to
whether or not Mr.. Lingano had made
any threats against the witness TO induce
him to change his testimony. Fuller re-
piled that he did not know what else it
might be called. He then stated that an
advertisement appeared in The Telegram
asking for the boy in yachting cap who
hx.o aLN 80 -
to call at The Telegram Office.
Fuller said that in answer TO this adver /.
tisement he had called and seen Lingane,
who got him to go over to General Will
sor's Office, where his statement was
taken down. Just before the statement
was taken by the stenographer, Fuller
said Lingane asked him how much he was
getting week, and stated he needed a
boy at his Office. General Wilson'S stem
ographer took his story down. Lingane
seemed to want to impress on him a story
OF the affair favorable TO himself. A
couple of other interviews were had, the
witness claimed, by him, with Lingane.
The last of these interviews Fuller said
was held about week ago. 1t was at
this point that Fuller wrought nearly
every one in the court room up to a high
pitch of excitement by saying that Lin-
game at this last interview told him he
had heard that witness had told differ
ent stories to the grand jury than he had
told him.
"what," sharply queried the Attorney
General, "did Lingane pretend to know
what took place before the grand jury?'
The answer was waited for with much
anxiety by the defendant and his counsel
but the witness weakened ana said he
was not sure the words grand jury were
used.
General Wilson then took the witness
In hand and ked concerning statements
to him and his stenographer. There
seemed to be very wide margin between
the stenographic report OF conversations
in his Office as read by General Wilson
and the testimony of the witness under
examination. All that Fuller could say
concerning these divergences was that
he had always told the truth about the
matter. .
Fuller had claimed that he did not re-
mem ber many Of the statements made in
General Wilson'S office, and nearly all of
these were favorable to the defendant.
But there was one statement In the
stenogrsphic report of hat took place in
the councillors Office that the General
himself said "seemed inconsistent with
the other statements" for il was to the
effect that Fuller saw Lingane running.
but did not see whip in Cooks hand
until after the first shot was fired.
Fuller, when asked il this was true, said
1t was, as he had sworn today that no
whip was seen by him in Cooks hand be-
fore the shooting.
Detective James o. Swan was the next
witness, and swore he saw Lingane at the
city hall at 1905 Dec. 10, 1894, aud had a
conversation with him at police head
quarters there, and Lingane coming in,
said, 81 have shot Osceola Cook Witness
asked defendant why he did so and Lin.
game answered, "He came for me-" De-
tective swan then asked what Cook had,
to which Lingane replied, 81 didn't see
anything; he made a motion TO 20 into
his pocket tc draw something cut"
To General Wilson witness would not
say Lingane did not say Cook pulled
something out OF his pocket, but he was
positive Lingane did say he saw Cook
pull nothing.
General Wilson asked Detective Swan II
there was not considerable feeling against
Lingane in his Office. To this question
the Attorney-General promptly objected,
and the court sustained the objection.
Witness did not know that the defendant
had been under police protection.
/. Ex-chief of police Child testified that the
defendant told him that Cook and Wal
lace were. together and Cook turned upon
him, put his hands under his ulster and
approached him in crouching manner
and drew raw hide.
To General Wilson witness said that
there were three In the room when the
statement OF Lingane was mode. The
witness had sent all the other parties out
of the room, as he claimed he had a
right TO do. In answer 10 question as TO
the feeling of the witness toward Lin
game the ex-chief said he guessed there
was no love lost on either side. General
Wilson asked question as to the feeling
of the members OF the police force against
the defendant, but this was ruled out
The witness stated Lingsne had made
many false statements in The Telegram.
Ex-cbief Child further stated that dep
uty chief Egan had told him the defend
ant bad applied for police protection and
that detective Merrill had been put ON
the case
Attorney General Dubois here announc-
ed that tho state rested.
General Wilson at once began his OPEN
ing address to the jury. Ilo stated that
there had been no similar case TO the
one on trial I'm the history OF the state
and but one or two in the history OF the
criminal jurisprudcnce OF New En-
lgand. He referred to the impo rtance of
the case and said the defense expected to
prove that the party Cook was looking