The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-04-02
ManagerLinganeDeScribes
The Shooting.
AttOrney-General Asks Some
Pertinent Questions.
Defendant Was Afraid That Cook
Would Kill Him on Sight.

The testimony taken today In the trial
of David +. Lingane for an assault on
Osceola X. Cook, with pistol, was of a
more interesting nature than any thet
has preceded it.
The defendant was on the witness stand
for about two hours and he was sharply
cross-examined by Mr.. Hopkins, who is
associated with the Attorney General in
the prosecution OF the case. The testi-
mony Of Mr. Lingane' was concluded just
before the noon recess.
There were today the customary verbal
alterations between counsel and quite a
number Of things that counsel for the
defendant wanted TO get before the jury
In a formal way were ruled out. The
Attorney General and the defendant had
sort of Roland for an Oliver contest
for few minutes before the adjournment
this noon.
John Doherty, whose cross examina-
tion was In progress when the court rose
on Tuesday evening, took the witness
stand shortly after $3.50 o'clock and an
swered few questions put to him by Mr..
Hopkins, who Is conducting the cross
examination OF the witnesses for the de-
fence.
Major Frank ii. Harcourt was the Sec
MIR. Cook few minutes after the shoot
ing. He had conversation with Osceo-
la, and as the latter was having his wound
dressed, witness picked up whip and
said: "Wlat is this for, Cook?" He re-
piled, 81 had il for Lingane,u or 81 was
laying for Lingane." Heard another man
ask question somewhat similar to the
one witness had asked Cook, but did not
remember the mans name.
in answer TO questions by Mr.. Hopkins
Harcourt said he had been q special
writer, city editor and managing editor
of The Telegram, but had not been In the
employ Of that paper for five years. The
witness was closely questioned as to
whether or not he was humorist, and
denied the soft impeachment. He claimed
that an article sent by him to a Boston
Sunday paper in regard to Lingane and
his staf OF co-laborers in the field of
education practicing with pistols,
was written in SO extravagant and face
tious vein that nobody would have i'm
sgined IL to be true, not even the country
sditors who had very extensively copied
The statement.
lie said In reply to further questions
by Mr.. Hopkins that he thought there
was an officer in Blanding's drug store
when Cook was taken there, and that his
testimony given In the trial of the case
the District Court was more apt to be
correct as to details than his statement
,f today.
John NJ. O'Rourke swore that he had
snown Osceola Cook for several years,
And knew him ct the time of the shoot
.ng. He was on Weybosset street the
day Of tho shooting, and stood near the
postofiice. Had seen Cook nearly every
day for week previous to the shooting
near the Senate. Cook bad during that
time asked witness TO point out ingane
and friend who was with O'Rourke
said, 81 would not be in Linagne's shoes
for 5000, for that fellow has rawhide to
thrash him WITH" Witness said he ad-
vised Cook not to have anything to do
with Llngane, but the latter said she
has written about my house in his paper
and have got a daughter whom i am
educating that did not want to hear OF
this. "
When asked by Gen. Wilson IL this was
all he knew OF the matter Mr.. O'Rourke
said ''No; in justice to Mr.. Cook /
should say that when / pointed out
Llngene to him he said to me, 'What
Do you think would go to Cranston for
licking man like that? Well, / guess
not. i then asked him what he had a
rawhide for, and he said Il amt got
one and he opened the breast of his
ulster and j could see there was no whip
there"
The State did not cross examine this
witness.
David +. Lingane testified that he re-
OF The Telegram. He knew Osceola about
two years, and had no personal acquaint-
ance with him previous to the shooting.
On Dec. 10, 1894, Cook made an attack on
him, but up to that time had never had
any alteration with him. lie had heard
OF threats made by Cook and saw him
standing around the Senate for few
days previous TO the shooting. Every
time witness saw Cook his eyes were
fixed, as the eagles might be on the sun,
on The Telegram office. He last saw him
before the Saturday of the shooting ON
the afternoon previous as he left detec-
tive Merrill TO take a car.
On Friday afternoon previous to this |
last event he saw Cook I'm Tillinghast's |
restaurant door and he left come men at
the door OF The Telegram Office and went |
up Westminster street. and getting be- |
hinn chestnut vender, he saw Cook pass |
up the street as far as Lothrop's drug |
store, and then witness went back TO the |
Office and peeped out of an inner door.
The gentlemen left at the Office door OF |
the Telegram were Thomas +. Quigley, |
Thomas Holland and James X. Day' |
During these days the IA ct that Cook was |
laying for him was brought TO his atten- |
tion dozen times and by dozen indi- |
viduals.
He thought Cook, on Friday had, be- |
fore witness went up Westminster street, /
stood In the restaurant door about Is min |
hast's on Friday bcause he was afraid TO. |
The party that caused this fear was Osce-
ola Cook and the reason he was afraid OF |
Cook was because he thought that gentle
man might kill him.
General Wilson then said: In order to pro-
tect yourself what communication had you
with the police authorities about secur-
ing protection?
The Attorney General objected TO the
etyle OF the question, claiming that coun-
eel on the other side had interjected con-
stantly number OF improper comments.
Judge Wilbur ordered the form OF ques.
tion changed. few moments afterward
there were more sharp discussions bo.
tween counsel as the Attorney General
kept up constant fire OF objections TO
The questioning OF General Wilson and
he was often sustained by the court.
When the witness got chance TO speak
again he said that the first time he asked
for protection was at 2 o'clock on Friday
but there was delay somewhere and Sec
ond appeal had 10 be made, this was
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