The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-06-24
Went to House in Search of
His Wife Who Left Him.
The Prisoner Told His Troubles on
the Witness Stand.
Blamed Mrs. Manson for Differences b.
tween Himself and Wife.

The trial of Emery j. French on a
charge Of assault with dangerous
weapon, today brought out the fact that
there had been trouble between French
and his wife and he had drawn a revolver
on one, Mrs. Manson, because She in
terfered
French claimed to have engaged an at
torney, but the attorney engaged proba-
bly, misunderstood matters as he was not
In court when the case against French
was called. Judge Wilbur observed Police
Judge X. f. Lyman in one of the chairs
used by attorneys and promptly assigned
him to defend French.
Mary +. Manson was the first witness
called by the prosecution and she testified
that she kept lodging house ON Broad
street, and the prisoner came to her house
the 18th OF May last at 10 80 a. M, and
demanded admission. When she refused
to let him further than the thres hold, he
put his hand to "a back pocket of his trou-
sers and drew pistol which he held to
her face, SO that the pistol glistened In
the sunlight. She called Mr.. th
who took the pistol from French.
On cross-examination witness was
asked to describe her lodging house and
she responded in sharp tones, Its a
straight lodging house." Most of her
boarders engaged their rooms by the week.
The prisoner did not ask for his wife when
no tried to get into the house That lady
had done housework for the witness
The reason Mrs. Manson did not run
away when the prisoner held the revolver
so close to her face was that she knew
French and knew bin to DO violent
man. Mrs. Manson was sure the revolver
was loaded for she had looked into the
barrel, and she gave an exhibition of how
she looked into the barrel Of the revolver
which showed much Of her bravery had
vanished, for she held the revolver at
arms length away from her with the
barrel pointed at Judge Lyman.
Mr.. Smith, who was elegantly sttired.
testified that French had been to the
house the night before and when he heard
the talk between Mrs. Manson and
French he interfered. On cross-examina-
tion he said he did not hear French ask
about his wife. Witness had been lodg-
ing at Mrs Manson's about three months
and just as soon as French pulled the
revolver witness grabbed 1t and put
French out
Mrs Shadruok, mother of Mrs Man
son. also testified that French pointed
revolver. Capt. Costine testified that the
revolver was loaded when 1t WAS given
him by Smith.
French said his wife left him seven
weeks before he went to Mrs. Mansun's
and he heard she was at that place. When
he asked for his wife Mrs. Manson at
once tried to close the door in his face
and he took out the revolver to see II ho
could not get into tho house. He had bor-
rowed the revolver from nephew the
same morning he went TO Mrs Manson's
He told Attorney General Tanner he was
so mixed UP over the trouble with his
wife. for which Mrs. Manson was respon.
sible that he could not tell why he loaded
the revolver.
Tho jury found the prisoner guilty, but
recommended him TO the mercy OF tie
court. Judge Wilbur imposed sentence
of four months in Jail.