The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-03-04
The Old PrOverb Recalled by the
License Investigation.
RECORDS OE SOME REMONSTRANTS ROCKY
Captain COstne Was Obliged to Raid a Place Owned by
Chief PuSher Mcdonald.

good faith as a remonstrant. III 1t could
be shown that within one, two or three
years one or more of these remonstrants
been engaged in an illegal traffic In liquor
or in gambling or that their places have
been raided, 1t will have tendency TO
demonstrate the sort of SINGER ity they had
in objecting to the transfer OF Licenses
for the good OF the community.
Chairman Fuller remarked thst in his
opinion the inquiry on IL at point ought
to be confined within some specified
time.
Mr.. Mccarthy submitted that he had
a right to confne General Wilson 10 a spe-
CITED time. IL that were not done he
could go back 20 years. This questioning
he regarded simply as an attempt to
throw dirty water on the remonstrants
because they had done what the statutes
gave them right TO do.
"Mr. Mccarthy is very consistent" re-
torted General Wilson. "The other even
ing we had gentleman on the stand who
testified frankly and trut fully as j be-
lieve, and Mr.. Mccarthy asked him II he
was not indicted for stealing or some
thing OF that sort and the answer was
yes that he had been but was acquitted.
Now, that indictment was 10 years ago.
i made no objection. TO that question be-
cause IL was proper one. III Mr.. McCar-
thy had been confined to specified time
such as he is now demanding he would
not have been permitted to ask that ques-
tion. Now, j contend that IL this place
has been raided any time within five
years this committee ought to know it.
This matter goes beyond the mere ques-
tion of license, because they are trying
10 show that the license board has done
something viciods; otherwise they would
not be here"
Mr.. Mccarthy said that General Wilson
was presuming on the fact that all the
hara Of 4 ha A ta3.u In
yers. The witness about whom Mr.. Will
son mad spoken was put on the stand as
a truthful man and he had testified to
conversations that were given him in con-
fidence and it was perfectly proper and
legitimate to question him about that in
might know what manner of man he was.
ALDERMAN BURBANK's VIEW.
Committeeman Burbank said General
Wilson'S purpose was simply to test the
good faith of the remonstrants and that
ii would be proper TO inquire as TO that
raid whether il occurred within three
years or four years. After this Gen. Will
son resumed the examination Of Captain
Costine.
"When did you make that raid?"
81 can't tell, )" was the captains re-
sponse. 81 have been summoned here not
knowing what matters was going to be
asked about but think it was certainly
five years ago."
"You remember, captain, that in your
previous testimony you made mistake
of a couple of months about a very short
period of timer
'Yes; but as said before, did not
know what l was to be asked when came
here.'
"Weli, you made raids'
"Yes, sir.
81 understood 1t belonged to McDon-
ald."
(Which McDonald?"
s'The old gentleman, l think"
"Did Walter $. Mcdonald live In any
part of that house?"
81 don't know. The search warrant
was made out against person or persons
unknown"
"Was it the house of William McDon-
ald9"
.'I understood he owned it,
"What did you find when you made the
raid9"
ga barroom in fun blast"
What part of the house was the bar
''It was on the lower floor"
"Who kept the bar?''
81 don't know. / went there alone and
when got in there were about twenty
men there. They ran out the front door
as ! went in the back door. No one APP
peared to be running the bar there"
How did you get in?"
GAS ! came along saw two men that i
thought were going in. When they
caught sight OF me they stopped and
turned back. Then ! went in and raped
on the back door and IL was opened. I"
"Had this place the reputation of being
one where liquor was sold illegally and
OF Sundays?"
"Yes, sir.
"And you were on the watch about it,"
Yes, SIR
"Do you know Walter S. McDonaldf"
"No, sir, do not"
HE SEIZED LIQUORS.
In answer to further questions Captain
Costine testified that he made a seizure
of beer and liquors but the quantity he
could not remember. There were i'm the
place all the fixtures of a barroom also.
No complaint was made out as he did
not know who owned the place and when
the stuff seized came up for condemnation
no one appeared TO claimthem. lie didn't
ascertain who lived in the house nor did
he discover who sold the liquor there.
Then General Wilson took up another
line OF inquiry for briet time.
THERE WAS NO LICENSE.
ado you know the Ahearn slstersH" he
asked.
81 know one OF them"
"Has there been a barron on their
premises within few years."
al can't tell exactly, but think II
must be more than two years since there
was a bar there"
"Where was the liquor store situated
with reference to the part Of the house
they occupie1Y'
"Ihey lived up stairs y
"Who sold liquor there2'
"a man named Baxter"
''Is he selling now2"
eyes close by, at the corner OF Black
stone and Plain streets.'
"Now, captain, do you mean TO tell the
committee that you don't know who was
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