The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-04-14
WERE SUSTAINED
Charges Against PatrOlmaH
John O'Brien Upheld.
Resolution Passed Dismissing the
Officer From the Force.
The Two Aldermen O'Brien Held that Charges
We're Not Proven By the Testimony.

After public hearing of three hours
duration yesterday afternoon on charges
preferred against Patrolmen O'Brien by
David o. Black, publisher of the Evening
Times, and Charles M. Read, clerk OF the
Common Council, the Board of Aldermen.
by vote of to 2, declared the charges
sustained and ordered the patrolman dis
charged.
Much interest centered in the hearing
from the fact that the above patrolmau
has $4,000 libel suit pending against
Publisher Black in consequence of pre-
v1ous illusions as to his habits. The pub
Usher stated under oath that he shad-
owed the man for the purposs Of finding
out the truth of his court declaration filed
that he was not a drinking man, and said
he took along Council Clerk Read as a
witness.
The charges against Officer O'Brien were
to the effect that on the 18th Of March,
while on duty, he entered the saloon OF
John IL. Branaghan, on Broad street, by a
side door, and drank liquor therein.
After hearing the testimony the Board
went into executive session to consider
the matter.
Upon returning to open session Alder
man Thayer offered the following resolu-
tion
Resolved, That in the charges preferred by
David %. Black and Charles VI. Read against
John O'Brien, police constable OF this city.
the Board are of the opinion that the charges
are sustained, and il is resolved that the
said John O'Brien be discharged as police
con stnhle and from A n.,il nf
city.
Alderman Thomas O'Brien offered the
following substitute:
Resolved, In the matter OF the charges Pee.
fcrred by David .. Black and Charles NJ
Read against officer John OBrien, testi.
mony on both sides having been presented,
the complainant and defendant being botls
present, we are of the opinion that said
charges hgfve not been proven, and are
hereby dismissed.
Alderman Thomas O'Brien's resolution
was refused passage by vote of two yeas
to three nays, the two O'Briens voting i'm
affirmative, and Aldermen Thayer, Darling
and White in the negative.
Much bad blood was displayed between
the aldermen over the matter, and Alder
man Thomas O'Brien created scene by
declaring that those voting against the
policeman came to the hearing with their
minds made up, determined to act in &C
cord with the men who preferred the
charges. This statement was promptly
pronounced false by Messrs. Thayer, White
and Darling.
Alderman Thayer's resolution was then
passed, Aldermen Thayer, Darling and
White voting in the affirmative and the
two Aldermen O'Brien in the negative.
The Board then proceeded to the con-
sideration of routine business.
communication was received from His
Honor the Mayor announcing the appoint
ment of George l.. Littlefeld as Commis-
sioner of the Sinking Fund.
Several petitions for licenses for victuaI-
ing houses, taverns, and pool tables, were
referred to the Committee on Police.
Davis Coleman's junk lisense was re-
newed.
Petition of SIS. Peter and Paul,s Church
that the tract OF land recently purchased,
adjoining st. Francis cemetery, may be
used for cemetery purposes, and that the
tax assessed against this land in 1896 be
abated, was referred to the Committee On
Cemeteries.
Claim of Catherine Lawless and others
for compensation for damages by the i'm
provement Of Denver street, 600, was re-
ferred to the Committee on Claims.
Resolution appropriating $525 for re-
planking Exchange street bridge was re-
ferred to the Committee OH Finance.
0Petition TO lay out new highway from
Pawtucket avenue, to be known as Lafay-
cite street, was referred to the Committee
on Highways, and petition to curb said
street was referred to the Committee On
Streets.
Petition to establish grade on Beech
wood avenue was referred to the City En-
gineer with instructions to bring In pro-
file of a proposed grade.
Adjourned until Wednesday evening,
2Sth INST, to consider the petitions for
abatement.