The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-05-05
Coroner Mathieu to Submit
His Findings in Welch
Case Today.
The Attorney General Will Be
Notified That Death Was
Caused by Accident.
FATALITY ON LONSDALE AVENUE.
Queen Esther Chapter Entertained Visitors
Voting For Popular Flower--Ballou Post
Meeting-Report Sent Back-Notes.

Coroner Il. V. Matthew has completed
his findings in the Welch bicycle acci-
dent and will forward them to the Attor-
ney General tomorrow. DIR. Matthew has
made thorough examination of the case
and found 1t most complicated one. In
conversation with TRIBUNE reporter he
said that there were points about it he
could not thoroughly understand, as the
witnesses made such contradictory state
ments about the case. In the first place,
Notwithstanding the direct testimony
given by Mr.. Ponton, he feels confident
that there was no collision OF riders, and
consequently death could not have re-
suited from that cause.
1t will be remembered that Mr.. Ponton
swore that he saw two bicycle riders meet
in collision, and running to the spot he,
with the assistance of one Of the riders,
carried the injured man to the sidewalk
and then go In search of a policeman.
James Osfield, the young man who was in
company with Henry WEIGH that evening
swore that he heard crash and saw one
of the colliding parties ride of towards
Valley Falls. In direct examination Os-
field said that he was about fifty yards
away at the time, but he hurried to the
spot and was the first to arrive there. Os-
fields testimony throughout the whole
affair has been rather contradictory.
Next comes the Ievidence of the three
young men whose attention was attracted
to Welch as he passed by them on account
of his peculiar manner OF riding. They
claim that they Immediately ran to the
spot and saw no indications OF collision,
and saw no bicycle rider in the neighbor-
hood other than James Osfield who, when
they reached the spot was holding the in
jured mans head in his hands, trying to
make him speak. They claim that it was
impossible for collision to have occurred
without their having seen it. They reach
ed the spot few seconds after the acci-
dent occurred and claim that Mr.. Ponton
was not there at the time. They also
assisted to carry Welch to the sidewalk.
The witnesses, however, upon whom the
coroner placed the most reliance and who
told straightforward story, were Miss
Grogan and friend, who were directly op-
posite the man when he fell from the
bicycle. They say there was no collision
whatever. Welch went to cross the track
and got thrown from his bicycle. They
saw Osfield ride up from the rear and
go to the injured mans assistance. In
view of the contradictory statements and
taking into consideration that the ladies
were within few feet of the man at the
the time he fell, DIR. Matthew came to the
conclusion that Henry Welch came to his
death by accident.
Bicycle Rider Injured.
Last evening as George Stanley of Madi-
son avenue was riding on Lonsdale avenue
near the cemetery, he was run into and
knocked down by a team whose owner
could not be ascertained. Stanley was
trying, according to the stories told, to
get out of the way Of the team when he
was run down by the other. His head was
cut and his left arm and body was bruised
in painful manner. The owner of the
team did not wait to see il the young man
was hurt, but whipped up his horse and
got of the way as soon as possible.
Queen Esther Chapter.
Queen Esther Chapter, Order of the
Eastern Star, met last evening In regular
meeting, and 1t Is safe to say that it will
remain many day In the memories OF the
members as one of the most pleasant and
agreeable fraternal meetings ever held by
the chapter. During the business meeting
there were six candidates initiated and
several propositions for membership were
received. The Chapter had for visitors
about Atty from Woonsocket Chapter, and
after the regular meeting q social good
time was in order. Kinney's orchestra
was present and Idiscoursed charnaing and
delightful selections. Several pleasing
numbers on the violin were given by Miss
Helen May Butler of Providence, leader of
the Talma orchestra. A palatable collation.
was served and the balance of the evening
was whiled away in pleasant social inter-
course.
Ballou Post Members Indignant.
The regular meeting of Ballou Post, No.
3, q. A. R.,was held last night and rather
lively time resulted. It was known that
members OF the post did not take kindly
to the reflection cast upon them by the
action OF the Cumberland Town Council.
1t was voted to hire the Philharmonic
Band for the memorial day exercises.
When the matter Of accepting the grant
by the Cumberland Council came up there
was lively debate, and the consensus Of
opinion was that the post refuse to accept
the money, and further that they refuse to
visit the cemeteries In that town. The
matter was debated at some length, and
the discussion grew quite warm. The
matter was finally laid on the table until
the next meeting.
The position taken by the Cumberland
Council Is as follows: At the town meet
ing last June the sum of 200 was appro-
priated for Memorial Day. This sum has
always been given to Ballou Post for the
necessary expenses Of the day. At the last
meeting of the Council II was voted to al
low the Post $50, and the balance was to be
expended under the direction OF COM