The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-05-01
THE WEIGH INQUEST.
Mass of Contradictory Evidence Given
Before Coroner Matthew.

A Mass of Contradictory Evidence Given
Before Coroner Mathieu.
Shortly after 1 o'clock yesterday after
noon Coroner Matthew opened the inquest
Into the death of Henry Welch, who was
killed in bicycle accident on Broad street
last week. The witnesses contradicted
themselves in an alarming manner. Sew
eral different versions of the affair were
given, every witness claiming to have been
the first witness on the spot.
The first witnesses called were George
Welch, William Miller and Patrick Loner-
gan, and their stories were substantially
the same. They said they were walking
along Broad street and their attention was
attracted by a loud crash, and looking
around they saw that q man had fallen
from his bicycle. They testified that when
they ran to the spot they found Welch
lying on the ground with the wheel be-
tween his legs and Osfield holding Welch's
head In his lap. They further testified that
they saw no wheel In the neighborhood
except the one ridden by Osfeld, and that
was lying some five or six feet in the rear.
1t was their opinion that there was no col
lision. They assisted in carrying Welch
to the sidewalk and one OF them went in
search Of water.
James Osfleld testified that he was in
company with Welch that evening and at
the time of the accident they were coming
from Valley Falls. Osfield said that Welch
was about 60 feet ahead of him. He did
not see collision but believed there was
one as he saw Welch knocked from his
bicycle, and at the same time saw an un-
lr IL l<~a \ L
Valley Falls. He went to Welch's assist
ance and when some young men arrived
asked one of them to 60 for some water.
He denied that Welch was intoxicated,
but admitted that they had some beer that
evening. He said that Welch was a good
rider.
Joseph Ponton said that he was a bar
tender and was on his way home that
evening, about 8 o'clock, and when In the
neighborhood of Chestnut street, saw two
men collide. Both were riding wheels,
and one was coming from Valley Falls and
the other was going towards that point.
He said that he was about 80 feet away at
tho time. He went to the mans assistance
and with the aid of the other party to the
accident, assisted Welch to the sidewalk
and went In search of an officer. He said
he found Officer John Welch, and when
they arrived at the spot nearly fifty people
had congregated. He was positive that
he was the only person on the spot.
Officer Philip Landy said that he knew
Welch and saw him that night in Valley
Falls; had seen him several times on a
bicycle; did not believe that Welch was
intoxicated that evening when he saw
him.
Misses Mamie Connors and Julia Grogan
gave the same testimony. They said that
they were on their way home from Cen
trail Falls that evening, and had arrived at
the corner of Chestnut street on Broad
when they saw bicycle rider fall to the
ground; saw no other rider run into him:
saw a young man, who they afterwards
was James Osfeld, jump from his
bicycle and run to the assistance of the
fallen man.
They knew Welch by sight but not to
speak to. They were directly opposite to
Welch at the time he fell and are positive
hat no one ran into him. Went over and
looked at the man and saw OsfieId hold.
ng Welch's head in his lap.
officer John Welch testified that he was
,n Broad street that evening, and about |
O'Clock was accosted by Ponton, who
old him that man down there had been
knocked down by bicycle. Went to the |
pot and found Welch lying upon the |
breathing heavily, eyes opened, |
md q vacant stare In them. Placed him
aboard an electric car and conveyed him
20 the station, where he died later that |
'vening. This concluded the testimony. !