The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-08-13
An Adjourned Meeting Of the
Board Of Aldermen Held
at the City Hall.
Charges Preferred BY William
Boyd Against Policeman
Samuel iarkness.
LOLKS' HEARING MONDAY NIGHT.
Sylvan Street Sewer Finished Yesterday :
Committee on Highways to Repair CIty's
Sidewalks District Court News.


Sidewalks District Court News.
An adjourned meeting of the Board Of
Aldermen was held last evening and all
the members were present. The records
OF the previous meeting were read and no
errors being found they were approved.
The petition of Kelley and Moriarty to
transfer their victualing license to Jacob
Jacobson was, upon recommendation of
the Committee on Police and Licenses,
granted.
A petition wss received from the Provi-
dence Telephone Company asking per-
mission to erect two poles on Cross street.
The petition was referred to the Committee
on Poles, with power to act.
The following communication was then
read to the Board:
STATE OF RHODE ISLAND.
Providence So:
To the Mayor and Board of Aldermen OF
Central Falls:p
I,.wilram Boyd OF Central Falls, in said
county, on oath depose and say: On Monday,
the second day of August 1897, at II :35 p. m.
saw Samuel Harkness, a policeman OF Gen.
trail Falls, go into the entry OF the house In
the rear OF No. 12S Washington street, In said
Central Falls, and there called two women,
who live in said house alone, out to the door
step, and said women went out and they re-
manned with said Hardness at said door and
in said entry of said house until 20 minutes
of 2 O'Clock In the morning. During all this
time said Harkness was not doing his duty,
but remained fooling and carousing and
making a loud noise all this time. / saw a
pail OF beer or some such liquid brought to
them, and the officer drank out of the pail.
He and those women made so much un-
seemly noise that the people about the
house and my house could not sleep. live
In the house No. 128 Washington street. 1
made complaint OF this matter to the
Mayor and to the Chief of Police, and the
only notice which has been taken OF II was
that said Harkness was given another beat.
am informed that the women were a Mrs.
Ballou and her daughter, who do not bear
an excellent reputation.
1, therefore, charge said Harkness with
gross conduct unbecoming an officer, with
violation of his oath of office, and ask for
his removal from office II found guilty OF
these offences. WILLIAM BOYD.
Sworn to before me Aug. II, 1897.
HUGH j. CARROLL Notary Public.
After the reading of the charges, Presi-
dent Eastwood said: ~ would like to
state that there has been a number Of
rumors about the city In regard to this
matter. / understand the alleged mis-
demeanor was reported to His Honor the
Mayor and on that account he changed
the beat of the patrolman. / believe 1t
would be courteous thing for His Honor
In a case of such serious nature, to have
notified the Committee on Police and
Licenses before taking any action. hardly
believe the matter should have been al
lowed to rest with the change of beat.
ssWhen the complaint was made he paid
no attention to 1t and still he claims that
the charges do not come before him. Ac-
tion has been taken in such case without
charges having been presented in writing.
Mr.. Paine also made several complaints to
him but they received no attention"
Alderman Mccartney said: "Have you
any proof that the Mayor changed the
officers beat because of the alleged mis-
conduct?"
81 have it," said President Eastw ood,
''from one of the highest officials of the
city and IL it is necessary will name him."
Mr.. Mccartney said It was necessary.
Continuing he said: "Mr. President,
believe this Is matter which should first
20 before His Honor the Mayor to see
what action he would take in the case The
communication Is addressed jointly to
him and the Board. To do this think
would be proper and as believe according
to the expressed wish of the Mayor"
81 am in favor of such disposal of the
matter" said President Eastwood, "be-
cause / consider that the proper way to do
Is to refer the communications to the
Mayor"
Alderman Mccartney then said: 81 also
consider that that Is the proper thing to
do, and In this way to recognize the Mayor
as the official head of the city, and for
this reason i make a motion that the COM
munication be referred to the Mayor.
This motion was seconded by Mr.. Fon-
taine and previous to Its passage consider
able discussion was held as to how the en-
velope that contained the communication
had been addressed. Clerk Crawford COM
pared the handwriting on the communica-
tion with that on the envelope and stated
that The envelope had been addressed to
himself.
President Eastwood then put the motion
that the communication addressed to
9. Fred Crawford and signed by Hugh j.
Carroll be referred to the Mayor" This
motion passed.
Alderman Fontaine from the Committee
on Streets and Lights reported that he had
seen the electric light officials and they
refused to allow any rebate longer than
from Aug. 1.
President Eastwood said that his inten-
tion had been called by Mr.. Edward A.
Green to the fact that II would be good
idea II there were q number of barrels
placed about the city In which people
might deposit scraps of paper. Mr.. Green