The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-05-07

THEY SAW HIM.
Many Witnesses Observed
Druggist Watson.
After Attempted Burning of
Continental Hotel.
Testimony Against Defendant In
Burglary and Arson Case.

The trial Of Frank Watson tor alleged
burglary and attempted arson in the
Second District Court at Wakefield yester-
day developed into comedy because of
the latitude taken by the lawyers in the
case. Colonel +. ;. Arnold who appeared.for
the prosecution in association with lawyer
B. w. Case seemed to have little regard
for the skill Of lawyer A. B. Crafts, who
appeared for the defendant and their cross
fire of insinuation and open defiance kept
the village folk In happy frame or
mind. Temporarily they forgot that one
of their townsmen was before the bar of
Justice charged with crime that was
almost parallel with murder
On the night of April % the discovery
was made that an attempt HAD been made
TO fire the Continental Hotel at Nara
gansett Pier. All preparation for such a
happening had been made by the person
who was heard in the hotel after he had
forced an entrance. The accused, Frank
Watson, was seon at o'clock that morn
ing acting in suspicious manner and
he drove hurriedly away from the drug
store owned by the defendant and was
heard in his barn adjoining his house at
Peace Dale shortly after by neghbors.
He was seen by several persons at the
pier Immediately after three shots had
been fired by Mr. Carrie the keeper at
the Continental Hotel, and many circum-
stances led the police OF Narragansett
Pier to feel warranted in issuing papers
for tho arrest of Watson. The witnesses
yesterday, before the recess of the court
testified TO tho foregoing and in the
examination during the afternoon 10 was
brought out that Watson bad placed $4,000
additional insurance on the hotel last
August. The hammer with which en-
trance was effected 10 the hotel was idcn-
titled as belonging TO Watson.
Interest in the case seemed TO develop
and the courtroom was crowded late dur
ing the afternoon. Officer Briggs who had
seem Watson on the morning OF the house
breaking gave a detailed account of all
that transpired previous TO and imme-
diately following the alarm ut the hotel.
In crOss-eXamination he admitted that he
had been arrested for stealing sheep. This
was brought out 10 discredit his testi-
mony.
W. f. Greene of Westerly, an insurance
agent, testified TO the increased insurance
of $1,000 on the property last August
through commission from j. ID. Gas.
we'll * Son, Of Narragansett Pier. There
were three policies Of $1,000 each on the
one eighth interest owned in the hotel by
Mrs. Abby Watson. The policies were
taken out by Frank Watson, her nephew.
Young Mr.. Caswell also testified TO the
issueance of tnreo policies.
81. W. MllieT, Oh IDe IcaGO llle
drug store identified tho hammer found
In the hotel on the morning of the break
as belonging 10 Watson, and which was
kept in Watson's harm.
George ~ Knowles of TIE life saving
force at the pier testified ms TO what he
saw with Officer Briggs on the morning
of the break. He said the man they had
seen was Watson, and cOrroborated Off
Ger Briggs testimony. lie described his
pursuit. Of the team that was driven
rapidly away from the pier and the way
he followed 1t TO Peace Dale, and the
finding of Watson's barn door open and
the evidence that 10 was occupied after 3
o'clock OF the morning in question.
Thomas Quinn, also member Of the
life saving crew at the pier, made sub
stantially tho same statements as Briggs
aud Knowles.
Elisha q. Rodman, who lives near Wat
son at Peace Dale, testified that no heard
Watson drive into his barn on the morn
ing that the break In the hotel was re-
ported. Hc saw Watson standing on the
barn floor talking To- his horse about 5
o'clock in the morning. He saw him from
his window. Lawyer Crafts made the
witness admit that he had been convicted
and served a term OF four months i'm the
county Jail for assault when he was about
iG years of age. That was 33 years ago.
An effort was made 10 show that the as
Sault was rapo, but the question was not
answered. Ii was brought out that Wat
son had two suits pending against the
witness for Kicking his dog and for as
saulting Watson's wife and son.
At this point the trial was adjourned
until Monday morning