The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-04-13
O'BRIEN HEARING.
Aldermen Met This After
noon By Adjournment.
Lawyer Osfield Conducted the
Case For the Prosecution.
Lawrence Fogarty Was the First Witness and
Was Subjected to Much Cross Questioning.

An adjourned meeting OF the Board of
Aldermen was held this afternoon for the
purpose of hearing the charges preferred
against Officer John O'Brien, who Is
charged with conduct unbecoming an off,
Ger in entering a saloon and drinking
liquor.
The Council chamber was tested by
those who desired to listen to the testi-
mony Of the case. Officer O'Brien's coun-
sci was Hugh J. Carroll, Esq, while the
prosecution was looked after by J. Osfield,
Jr., who was acting for the complainants,
Mr.. David o. Black and Charles nj. Read.
1t was 2:30 o'clock when the meeting
was called to order. Mayor Davis presided
and there was a full attendance of
members.
After the clerk read the minutes OF the
previous meeting, Mayor Davis stated that
the meeting was called for special pur-
pose. The clerk then read the charges
preferred by David o. Black.
The findings OF the Aldermanic Com
mittee on Police were then made known,
and Mayor Davis stated that the case was
of such a character that the committee
deemed it wise to have the full Board act
upon It.
Mr.. Osfield arose and stated that he was
present to look after the interests Of David
o. Black and as such would act as the
prosecution officer and call witnesses.
The Mayor said that 1t would be proper
first to hear what action the Board would
take on this matter, whereupon the mo-
tion of Alderman Thomas O'Brien and
seconded by Alderman Darling, the Board
proceeded to hear the charges.
Lawrence Fogarty was called. He is a
barkeeper in the employ of John III. Bran
aghan, and when questioned by Lawyer
Osfield said that he was on duty the morn
ing of March IL.
He said that he usually opened the shop
at 5 o'clock, but on the morning Of March
II he was three quarters OF an hour late.
After considerable crosse questioning
Fogarty admitted that he had brought a
glass of whiskey to q small room adjoin-
ing the shop and left 1t upon the table.
There was nobody about the place but
O'Brien.
Fogarty in his testimony admitted that
the officer stated to him that he did not
want whiskey, but come to let him know
about rear door which had been found
open.
At this juncture, Lawyer Carroll OBJ
jected to the cross questioning methods of
the prosecution, claiming that Fcgarty
was trying to tell a plain and
connected story of the happen
ings on that morning, and that three
times the counsel for the prosecution in
terrupted him when it was found that the
evidence was not what he expected.
Mr.. Osfield, in answering, said that he
had perfect right to cross-question in
this matter, as the witness, Mr.. Fogarty,
was an unwilling witness, and he was
simply endeavoring to get truthful
statement.
Mayor Davis thought that the counsel
for the prosecution had a right to cross
question.
Fogarty swore that he had no talk with
Officer O'Brien other than statement
made to him on the sidewalk by the Off
Ger, who said those two fellows are trying
to make trouble for me and will report at
the station that l went in there to get
something to drink, which, of course, you
know to be wrong, as / went in there to
tell you about the back door.
At 3 o'clock the same witness was still
under cross-examination.