The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-07-17
The Charges Against Police
Officer James hanrahan
Were Dismissed.
Chief Goldsmith Deprived OF the
Services Of the City
Solicitor.
INSURANCE POLICY ON CITY HALL.
Pleasant Social In Cadstss Hall--Minor Acct
dents Yesterday Society Notices, and
Preparations For LayiSg Of Cornerstone.

At a special meeting OF the Board OF
Aldermen held last evening the charges
preferred by Mayor Gottschalk against
Officer James Haarehan were summarily
dismissed.
The reason was that the Chief OF Police
did not have his witnesses present. he
had summoned them, but had not paid
them their witness fees, as the law re-
qures. There was soine talk OF placfng
them in contempt, but when the statute
was read 1t was found that they should
have been paid. 6ergt Louks and two or
three witnesses were present, but the Chief
said that his most important ones were
absent.
The Board having convened President
Eastwood stated that this being q special
meeting the records of the last meeting
would be dispensed with. "This meeting"
said President Eastwood, "has been called
to investigate the charges preferred against
Police Officer James Hanrahan, and we
are here ready to hear any person who has
anything to say. Is any person present
who desires to be heard in this case 2"
Chief of Police Goldsmith entered at this
moment and President Eastwood enquired,
"Where are your witnesses?"
Chief Goldsmith replied "Mr. President
the witnesses have not arrived. sum
moned them for 7.30 o'clock"
''Well, it's past that time now. Why
amt they here 2" said Mr.. Eastwood.
The Chief replied that he did not know.
He had summoned them for that hour and
expected they would be present.
"Who prepared this case ?" asked Mr..
Eoo ~ sad hat he hal
prepared the case.
Mr.. Eastwood then said, "Are you ready
to proceed with the case?"
~ expected the City Solicitor would be
present to conduct the case" said the
Chief.
"The City Solicitor' Is here" said Mr..
Eastwood, a'but he is present ss the ad-
visor of the Board"
The Chief left the room for q moment
and upon returning said, "The witnesses
have not az yet arrived"
~ see some Of your witnesses here, said
Mr.. Eastwood. "Why can you net 60
ahead with your case 2"
The Chief replied, "My most inportant
witnesses have not yet come and want to
begin at the beginning"
President Eastwood reiterated, "Is there
anyone who desires to be heard In this
case?"
The Chief then said, "Mr. President,
don't know why the witnesses are not
here, but IL should like to have q CON-
tinuance and will promise you that the
next time'I will have them here on ume."
Mr.. Eastwood then stated that Mr.. Han
rahan was present and while charges were
hanging over him he was without work
and he did 0Ot see why the case should be
continued.
Lawyer Thomas Robinson then arose
and said, ~ represent the respondent In
this case, and object to the hearing being
postponed. Il can't come up here every
night. We are ready to proceed and IL the
prosecution As not ready that is not our
fault"
President Eastwood stated that "Per-
sonally i do not care to come up here night
after night as y have got other things to
do"
tion: "Mr. President, can't we wait
awhile? Are not these witnesses obliged
to come just the same as to court?"
Chief Goldsmith then said, understand
that they are. The City Solicitor can tell
you better about that than can"
After consulting the Public Laws the
Solicitor read from the statute a section
showing that the witnesses were not COM
PEELED to respond unless the summons was
accompanied by the customary fee.
The question was then asked the Chief
IL ho had presented the fee with the sum-
mondee, and he replied that he had not.
"Well," said President Eastwood, "then
according to that the witnesses are not
compelled to attend unless they are paid
In advance"
The President again propoundedn he
question, "Is there anyone here who is
ready to 60 ahead with this case?"
Alderman Mccartney suggested that
"possibly the Mayor was called away
professionally"
"Well," said Alderman Keene, sif he
has been he should have found some way
to inform the Board"
Alderman Mccartney then spoke up and
said, ~ am wholly unfamiliar with the
charges preferred. We are here ready to
proceed with the case. We have been
kept waiting. There are no witnesses
present to sustain the charges. move
that the case be dismissed"
Alderman Keene seconded this motion,
and being put before the body 1t was car
ried.
President Eastwood then declared that
the charges were dismissed inasmuch as
the prosecution were not ready to sustain
them.
Alderman Mccartney then made mo-
tion to adjourn and this action was taken.
After the meeting the City Solicitor
made the following statement I'm an inter-
view: "I came out here with no know
ledge OF this case. ] simply knew that
some officer was In trouble. was here to
do whatever the Board ordered me to do.
received a telephone message from the
Chief telling me to come tonight" Upon
being asked II II was not expected that he
would conduct the case for.t depart
ment, he said that he did not understand
his duties TO be such In an exceptional