The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-05-12
A Pair of Them Figured
in the Watson Trial.
They Fitted the Feet of the
Accused Pier Druggist.
Expert Tells OF Use OF Naphtha and
OIL A New Hammer Shown.
Special Dispatch TO The News.

Special Dispatch 20 The News
Wakefield, K l.. May IL. The hearing
In the case of Frank Watson, charged with
breaking and entering and attempting TO
burn the Continental Hotel at Narragan-
sett Pier, was practically concluded late
yesterday afternoon. James G.. Carrie, the
watchman at the Continental Hotel was
recalled by the defense, and was made
thor witness. He said that the wasbroom
in the basement whore the oil spots were
found, had been used by him as "A store
room for his wheel every winter since he
had been employed by the owners OF the
hotel, and that he kept his bicycle oil In
that room. When he cleaned his wheel he
took 10 along the kall 10 the servants
dining room, using the north hallway and
not that To the south in which the oil
drops were found, although be ran tic
wheel 10 within foot oi where the OH
drops began.
The witness recalled that the man who
was in the house that night had spit
considerable tobacco juice along the floor
where the alleged oil drops Were In tfe
room from which the board was taken
when it was carried to the pantry, were
wooden packing cases, which might
have been used 10 start "a fire. but mono OF
these We're disturbed. In the pantry was
quantity OF paper, but that was not
touched. This was To show tnat there
was ample opportunity and material TO
start fire II one wished 70 do 40.
Referring To the footprints in the soft
soil under the piazza the witness said
that they extended quito "a distance from
tho window which had been broken.
John h. Babcock treasurer of the Wake
Held Trust Company, testified that the
mortgage and interest on Continental
Hotel property was so, 600, and the insur-
ance s93 300. Witness visited the hotel
the afternoon after the break and had
his attention called To spots which were
said 20 be oil. Some were larger than
Others, and appeared TO have been there
some time. There Were two matches
only, and these had been partly burned,
but he saw no other evidences of any at
tempt 10 burn the building.
.he Wakefield Institution for Savings
had some time since received from Abby
Watson 80 shares of stock in the City
National Bank of Providence as collateral
and security for her share of Liability of
the Continental Hotel Company, on ac-
count OF the mortgage. These are of the
par value Of so, and of the market value
of $50 This was offered TO show that had
the hotel been burned Watson, as an heir.
would lose that much of his aunt = estate.
Ii. +. Robinson one OF the owners of the
Continental Hotel said that Frank Wat
son saw him "a little more than year
ago, and at that time urged him 90 take
out more Insurance on the hotel Tho wit
ness thought that the rates were growing
too high, ard did not wish % take out
other olicies. This was introduced to
rer' government theory thar Frank
Wa, drrep.itlously went To work TO
socu.~ ,xtra Insurance on Abby Il. Wat
sons share of the property. Mr.. Robinson
sad he visited the hotel the afternoon
after the break but saw no evidence OF
nv 4 IN. hFtts h.N A xtrte
ness had dealt In kerosene ever since it
had been introduced as an illuminanb and
was familiar with the tests of it, A
lighted match thrown upon an oil spot on
a board floor would not be apt TO ignite
IT, ana II "a match was thrown into
saucer of OIL the match would be put out.
Albert Il. Edwards, sign painter, -.
titled Chat the hammer claimed TO boiong
10 Frank Watson, was what was known
as the 'auze heGdeye, and was constantly
for sale in all hardware stores, and sold
commonly everywhere. This was to rehut
the states evidence that Watson's ham
NOR was old fashioned, obsolete anu
therefore, difficult TO obtain One OF the
identical hammers, purchased in this town
today, was introduced by the defense
The witness had dealt in naphtha six
years. He testified that five minutes after
1t was poured upon any substance IL
would be completely evaporated. and no
of n room In which it was spilled If "a
window Of that room was left open.
Witness visited the hotel aitor the
break, but saw no evidence Of any at
tempt to burn the place
Tho defense put in the original power
of attorney from Abby Watson TO Frank
Watson, giving him absolute control OF
nne-eighth part of the Continental Hotel,
under which, at all times, he had the
right to enter the hotel
William A Watson cousin Of the
accused. testified that he and frank went
into the hotel through "a window in the
afternoon of April 2S, because. after 70
peated knocking at the doors, they could
not gain an entrance In any otl or way.
The defense produced pair ot new
"sneak" shoes which bad boon sent for
which were fitted to Watson feet. lho
state objected Co their Introduction, but
the court ruled them in on the ground
that the "Sneaks' were not of tho same
size Us those indicated by tho plaster east
of footprint taken under tho piazza of
the Continental Hotel, then the shoes
would bc admissible as teudiGg o. dis
credit the states evidence. IBo COmpari-
son pf the shoe and cast showed "A varia-
tion of about half an incn IN tho length,
the cast being the longer II the two. InC
state had claimed the pint 10 be that Of
"a q or 90 shoe watson wears a number 3.
Tho court here adjourned until Thurs
day morning when possibly one moro
witness may bo called hy the dclcnsn tut
it will not bo Frank Watson. The state
viii probably not present any rebUttIug
evidence. so the arguments Will be I'm
ishod by noon.