The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-06-05
His Crime, Assault on Girl
Under l6 Years of Age.
Agent Thurber Makes Sensational
Statement on Stand.
Austin Enticed Girl to Railway
Bridge and Left Her to Be Killed.

In Judge Wilburs' court this morning
Attorney General w. b. Tanner moved for
sentence on Charles II. Austin, young
man who had been found guilty of unIaw-
fully carnally knowing a girl under the
age of consent His counsel after jury
had found Austin guilty moved for new
trial which the Appellate Court refused
few days ago.
Attorney f.. c. Pierce in beffalf of
Austin urged his previous good character,
but the attorney general made the state
ment that from facts in his possession he
was led TO believe that the character of
Austin was not above reproach, but that
he was one OF those whose actions made
such law necessary, as the one he. had
been tried under.
Charles II. Thurber, agent of tho Society
for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
testified that he had had an interview
with Austin and the young woman ne
was accused of having wronged was
present. 1t was startling story that this
young girl told and one that the prisoner
did not deny. When according to tho
girl. Mr.. Thurber stated, Austin found
out her condition he was very angry and
after abusing her finally changed his
manner and begged her to walk with him
along the railroad track near Norwood.
A Plan to Caus. Death.
The girl went without thought of harm
until a bridge was reached that it was
very difficult to get over and almost i'm
possible TO leave should q train como
along. When about half way over tho
bridge Austin, according TO the girls
statements, as retold Dy Mr.. Thurher,
turned and ran away from her leaving her
I'm position of great danger ms train
was about due over the tracks on which
she was standing. 1t was with great
difficulty she claimed that after realizing
the horror of her situation she crawled
across the bridge and out of the way of
the train that was approaching at rapid
rate of speed.
Judge Wilbur sentenced Austin to
three years in states prison at hard labor
and TO pay all the costs of the prosecu-
tion. Austin was unmoved by the words
of the judge. which dwelt on the infamy
of his crime. Ii was evident, however.
that many in the court room expected a
longer sentence, as the maximum sem
tence is 10 years. Merritt, the barber.
who was sentenced for similar offense,
was given seven years many months ago.
What Was Shown at Trial.
At the trial of the case the defense
made its chief point the age Of the girl.
Mary j. Carr. This also was the main
ground on which new trial was asked.
Austin. who was clerk In well
known wholesale fancy and notion store.
went TO the girls hoIue near Elmwood
To meet her and IL was their custom to
take long walks. After one of these meet
tings tho Carr girl did not return homo
and the police began an investigation and
located her and Austin.
The defense offered "a copy of the birth
record of Florence Carr from the town
of Warwick whom they claimed was the
Mary A. Carr. that the prisoner was
alleged To have been guilty of improper
conduct with, and this certificate showed
that Florence Carr would be over IL years
of age when the offense was stated to
have been committed. The mother OF
Mary Carr testified tha her child's name
had never been Florence and that tho
former was when she kept the company
of Austin in 1895, not l6 years OF age.
Tho jury were not long in arriving at
verdict, but sentepce was at the time
deferred. on account OF tho notice given
by counsel for tho defendant Of his in
tention To claim new trial. Austin has
boon out on bail since his trial.
When the jury brought In its verdict OF
guilty. Austin's wife, who had not been
a great whilc married TO him, went into
Mysteries i'm the court room. The prisoner
Is we'll connected in this city.