The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-03-24
THE EARLECASE.
Testimony Of Witnesses
for Prosecution.
Much Interest Taken in Trial
of the Prisoners.
COmplainant's Bad Mem0ry--A Man
Fined for Larceny.

The only cases ready for trial in the
common pleas division of the Supreme
Court today were those of the Attorney
Generals docket. Great interest is taken
In the trial Of the young men, who, 1t is
claimed, were connected with the rob-
berry OF a watch and over s400 from George
X. Earle, proprietor Of the Mansion
House. on the 9th of last December.
Arthur f. Lindsay, indicted for steal
ing money and a watch all, of the value
of s73, from q chum who assisted I'm the
production of a theatrical performance
at the Providence Opera House, pleaded
noIo contendere. After Attorney Curtiss
had stated to the court that the property
was taken more as a joke than anything
else Lindsay was fined s40 and costs.
John O'Neill, indicted for keeping a COM
mon nuisance, pleaded not guilty and
gave bail in the sum OF 5000.
Howard Morgan, indicted for maintain
ing a nuisance, failed to appear and plead
and his recognizance was defaulted.
The trial of John Hopkins, Moses
Profit and John Mcnamara, indicted for
the larceny of watch, and money
from the person of George r. Earle was
resumed at 9:45 O'Clock.
Yesterday afternoon Mr.. Earle gave his
account of the assault made upon him
and of the taking of the money which
did not differ materially from the account
of the affair published in this paper at
the time of the occurrence.
When the court opened this morning
Charles II. Page, IT., continued the cross
begun shortly before the adjournment Of
the court last night.
Mr.. Earle, in answer to questions, stated
that the first he knew of anything after
he left the American House, was when
he was aroused by one of the women who
awoke him from sleep he had fallen in
to. He claimed that until the night of
the robbery he had not been In the Amer
lean House before in 80 years. He denied
being In that house last night and telling
some OF the employees there that he was a
little mixed about his testimony. lie,
however, said he was in the American
House last Sundsy evening, but on that
point ne sdmitted ne could not remem-
ber very well whether IL was OF Sun
day night he was in the house named or
not. TO fort her Questioning on Mr.. Pages
part he said he would not be sure whether
he went into the American House last
night or Saturday night. Mr.. Earle said
he had ordinarily good mem ory and
this reply concluded Mr.. Pages question
ing.
Dennis ]. Holland, counsel for McNa-
mara, began his questioning of the wit
ness by having him go over the incidents
OF the night the robbery took place. He
denied knowing whether or not the
money taken from him was taken by an
inmate of the Williams house or not. To
Mr.. Pagethe plaintiff denied having gone
to Marketman Sidney 4. Adams on Ben
eft street, with Mrs. Hall, sister of Hop
kins and asking Adams to 60 bail for
Hopkins and added 81 could not do any
thing so FOOLISH
Detective Silas w. Merrill testified that
he had known Hopkins about year and
that be first kney of the Earle robbery
at O'CLOCK on the morning of Dec. 10.
He Yves not at the station when Hopkins
was searched, but he saw the property
taken from the latter, which consisted of
sos In bank bills, check for S14, and a
silk umbrella. Hopkins admitted to the
witness that this property had been taken
from him. Hopkins claimed to have
found this money on the street. When
asked on what street he said South Main
street. 1t was, he further stated, money
taken by John Mcnamara from Earle;
that he intended to return the latter.
Hopkins. Mr.. Merrill claimed, admitted
seeing an officer While he had the prop
erty. In answer TO further questioning
Hopkins described the places visited by
himself, Earle, Profit and McNamara.
Hopkins also described the scuffie in the
entry way OF thew illisms house and See
ing Mcnamara take something from Earle
aud then a journey down South Main
street. When Hopkins got the money he
claimed TO have been taking it to the home
OF Earle when be was arrested. In leav-
ing the house Hopkins claimed to have
gone first out of the Williams house.
The story told by Profit to the detec-
tive was similar to Hopkins tale, except
that he said Mcnamara went cut .rst
and Hopkins last, he (Profiit) remaining
on the top of the stairs talking to Mrs.
Williams. he said McNamara gave him SO
and he bad hid IS in a store; the rest he
had spent with the exception OF 20 cents.
After the trouble at the Williams house
he went TO the What Cheer stables, where
he was employed.
The Attorney General then asked the de-
tective TO give McNsmara's story of the
affair. 1he ether two stories given by
the detective had been told in the pres
epce of all three defendants. Mr.. Page,
who appears for Hopkins and Profit, OBJ
jected TO the telling OF what Mcnamara
said, as the counsel of the two former had
reques ed separate trial from Mcnamara
and the latter,s story could not have been
used against Hopkins and Profit had the
trials been separate unless the Attorney
General made Mcnamara his witness.
The court overruled Mr.. Pages objec-
tion ana the story of McNamsra was re-
told by Detective Merrill. The account OF
the occurrences of the evening as related
by McNnmara did not vary from that OF
the other two suspects until II came
to a description of what took place
at the Elizabeth street house. lie
claimed that he went out first and
that Hopkins Knocked Earle down and
that he, Mcnamara. with Hor kins, went
down south Water street, nearly as far as
Point street bridge where the money was
divided. Mcnamara, according TO the
detectives testimony, hired hack and
went 10 Pawtucket To road house, where
be was arrested and 1910 found In his
ers pocket.
On Gloss examination by Mr.. Page the
witness stated that the stories told by all