The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-04-10
DiSgraceful End Of the
BurleSQue.
Preparation of an Outrage
Officially Endorsed.
Chairman Fuller Announces the End
of the Brennan Burlesque.


the investigation" of that board began
two months ago-it was. when John Nj.
Brennan asked for the privilege of swear
ing 10 tell the truth, the whole truth ana
nothing but the truth and even Chairman
Fuller's voice quavered on the second
syllable of the word "solemDly" when he
admin istered the solicited oath.
And then Clerk Nixon chuckled again
when he saw that Brennan was ratified
worse than he had been himself during
the early sessions.
The fact that it was the closing session
was another feature worth smiling at nut
for the rest the meeting In the Common
Council chamber last night was dis
grace TO the city, to the Council that au-
thorized 1t and TO the committee that al
lowed IT TO go on.
A blatant, brazen-faced bulldozing
attorney, with client whom ne is
ashamed TO name was allowed 10 IN
suit decent men before an audience
made up, for the most part, OF ms own
henchmen, the worst element In the
city, He was allowed TO insinuate by the
meanest of slurs that mans word was
worthless and that thar man, whose re-
cord Is without bemish, ought to go TO
Jail. And when his torrent OF abuse ana
vituperation was objected to by lawyer,
the objection was ignored by Chairman
Fuller on the ground that he was there
"to investigate" and wanted to bear all
there was to hear.
And then this committee, which had
ruled that they would not hear arguments
of counsel, allowed this representative
of an unknown client to take an oath and
under prvtence of giving sworn testimony
make his plea.
The buriesque Of two months duration
became something worse, and absurdity
gave way TO indecency and it was more to
the liking of the rabble.
But the impudence of Brennan availed
him nothing and he was the worst-whip-
ped individual, that ever aspi red to attain
notoriety.
To begin with, he called Mr. Tilden,
of the firm of 1ilden & Thnrbcr. to pro-
duce his books. Mr.. Tilden was in the
chamber, but was represented by his
counsel, Mr.. Comstock.
Mr.. Comstcck stated that his client was
there in answer TO summons, but that
he did not propose to testify and d1d not
propose to show any books. Brennan
was baked and the committee were at
loss as to what to do next. Then hey all
grabbed copies of the general laws, but
they might as we'll have consulted the
Koran, aud Brennan called BARTENDER
with a grievance. Then he had two or
three more OF that sort and also the chief
Of police, Mr.. Downey, end Mr.. Arnold,
the foreman of the Boston Store stables.
The questions put to them were wild and
without the slightest reference TO any
acts OF the license commissioners.
Brennan also tried the unique expert
ment OF making judge and jury serve as
witnesses and asked Chairman Fuller TO
take the stand. But that was too much,
and for the first time the Alderman in
II. q H., .xf& -
less client.
Brennan then called Mr.. Tobias Burke
and the latter told him to wait until be
cot his breath. BY this time the cham
pion of truth and purity was so thorough
ly squelched that he didn't care to press
the point and didn't call for Mr.. Burke
again.
Paine, who was testifyIng in rebuttaL
Mr.. Paine was told by General Wilson to
stand up and answer ana the simple fact
OF being faced by the victim of his per-
secution was enough to make the friend
of the committee cover and he went back
to his seat.
Mrs. Paine came to city hall at her own
request to testify that she had bought
those much talked OF lamps as Christmas
presents and to show the receipts for
them. To the credit of the committee
they took her testimony in an ante-room
that she might be saved the discomfort
of wading through the pools of tobacco
Juice of the rabble of Brennan's admirers.
brennan himself was allowed to retire
of woman his tongue failed him and
Mrs. Paine was spared from insult.
THE FACTS IN THE CASE.
General Wilson, in rebuttal. called
Burnham and Paine and
N, ha nj m hanr fhnQa txrn n q lS ma do IN
clear to every fairminded person that no
was needed and they show
ed the absurdity, falsity and injustice of
the alleged case which their prosecutors
bave taken 10 weeks to set up against
them.
The horse and carriage story was clearly
explained by Mr.. Paine, and the fact that
be purchased the outfit was corroborsted
by the receipts. 1t was also shown that
he charge OF corruption In this particu-
lar had for its source one of the periodical
Of everything and every
body emanating from Henry G. Clark.
Mr.. Paine also made it interesting
when he told why p. j. Lannon didn't
yet LICENSE at s Weybosset street. II
admitted that he was only lending the
use OF his name in order to get back for
Doherty and Ryan the license which they
had forfeited by violation OF law. And
all the other petty bsrroom rows which
have been presented In this investigation
rs public cslamities were put In their
proper light.
In again referring to the Doherty and
Ryan case MIR. Paine testified that he had
been appealed TO by Brennan TO grant
that license and that Brennan had said
that IL meant 300 TO him aud that he
would give 800 OF II TO the commissioner.
AS to that elaborate category OF charges
Of lying, impudence, "being subservient
to the strong and abusive to the weak"
and lot more clap trap, Mr.. Burnham
and MIR. Paine both testified that the
memD Ders OF the license commission had
conducted the affairs of their Office i'm
accordance with the law and without
favoritism; that they had used their dis
cretionary power allowed blythe statutes
TO the best OF their ability in the interests
OF the public and that no member OF the
Board had ever received from or given to
any liquor dealer any present or any
compensation.
During the re5uttai The Journal re-
porters and their friend Brennan relaxed
their efforts to marked degree and at III
O'Clock Alderman Fuller declared that
one of the worst outrages which ever
disgraced city hall was at an end.
--
In IfradIevss State.