The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-03-19
AGAINST MUIRHEAD.
Jury Returned a Verdict Of Guilty
This Afternoon.
He Was Indicted for Disturbing q Re-
ligious Meeting.

Thomas Muirhead was today tried under
an indictment charging him with dis
turbing religious meeting. His counsel,
quashed, because the offence charged
against Muirhead was not set forth in "A
sufficiently clear manner. Judge Wilbur,
after consulting certain authorities on
the subject, denied the motion
1t was ut the "Merino Mission" that
the offence of which Muirhead was ac-
cusod was committed This mission Is a
branch of the Methodist Tabernacle of
Olneyville, and Is located in one of the
companys houses at Merino village in
Johnston. The meeting that Muirhead
disturbed was held on Saturday evening,
Dec. II. and SO much of "a disturbance did
the defendant make that the meeting
broke up half an hour earlier than usual.
Albert Titchner, who was in charge of
the mission, said that Muirhead came
into the mission and was given a chair
and hymn book. He sang very loud
and was constantly out of tune. After n
few minutes Muirhead went out and as
he did SO began shuffilng his feet. When
the next room was reached Muirhead
kicked q mans hat and then tried some
circus tricks. The witness smelt beer on
Muirhead. On cross-examination witness
said he had invited Muirhead, who
worked at the same place he did. to at
tend the mission. The trouble in the
room to which Muirhead went after leav-
ing the meeting, caused the congregation,
which numbered about 26 TO disperse.
Henry w. Smith said he saw Muirhead
come out OF the room where the meeting
was. Muirhead, after standing few
minutes and saying nothing asked wit
ness who he was looking at, and tAeAxit--
ness said il was none of the interrogator S
business. Then Muirhead kicked at the
hat that witness held in his hand, and
after several efforts succeeded in hitting
it, after which witness took hold of him
and there was scuflie. Tho people in
the inner room rushed out To see what
the trouble was. On cross examination
Mr.. Smith denied that he chewcd the
finger of Muirhead in the scuflle.
Charles Williams, an usher at the mis-
sion, colroborated Mr.. Smiths story in
important particulars and also said that
Muirhead as he came ont of the meeting
was laughing and he shuffled his feet and
also said: I'm tired of praying, my
knees are sore.
Mrs. Dora r. Smith, wife of previous
witness, said that Muirhead sang out of
tune and made faces behind Mr. Titch-
ner's back. The boys in the mission
bolted when they heard the noise in the
other room.
Miss Annie Shier, who was Offering
prayer ut the time of the disturbance,
said the noise all came from the corner in
which Muirhead was.
Mr. Muirhead said he was, on the night
of Dec. IL, going on an errand when he
was invited by one of the chief workers
to 60 in. He accepted the invitation and
afterward recalled the fact that he had
an errand to do, and started 20 leave the
mission rooms when Mr.. Smith objected.
Lawrence Burns said Mr.. Muirhead
made no disturbance at the meeting
The last question the attorney general
asked this witness was how he had kept
out of the way of the police. Witness ex
pressed great surprise that the officer
should want him, and said he had been
around all the time. The jury found
Muirhead guilty.