The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-09-28
THE DEATH
OF THORNTON
Coroner Phillips Began
an Inquest Today.
MUCH TESTIMONY TAKEN.
II Tended to Show That Thornton
Was Drunk and Abusive.
WHY WATERMAN STRUCK HIM.

The inquest into the causes of the
death of Charles III. Thornton. who died
I'm Scituate on Saturday last, under cir
cumstances which the authorities
deemed called for investigation, was
held at the Town House in Thornton
at 10 o'clock this morning, and was
conducted by Coroner William A. Phil
lips. There were quite number of
witnesses on hand, many of them BEG
longing to the Providence police force,
while Detective Parker watched the
case on behalf OF the department.
Col Oscar Lapham. counsel for War
rem A. Waterman. was also present, and
followed the proceedings very closely.
officer Luther G. Bugbee. of the
Fourth station, was the first witness
called. and he testified that at about
1920 o'clock, on Wednesday afternoon,
September II. he was notified OF some
trouble on Tobey street. He went to
the place and found Thornton lying on
the sidewalk, and appeared TO be very
drunk. The witness loaded Thornton
into the patrol wagon and put man
named Wilson. who was with Thorn
ton. in the wagon also. Warren a.
Waterman was there at the time. and
he said: II suppose / am the cause of
this" and the witness supposed Water
man meant he had telephoned to the
captain for the wagon. Witness saw
Thornton in the station several times
during the day, and noticed that he was
able to sit up.
Capt. Joseph Marston of the Fourth
station, testified that he was at the
station when Thornton was brought in,
and saw him several times through the
afternoon and evening, and gave him
water. Thornton told witness that he
was not injured, but witness looked
him over and found only a mark on
his chin. which the witness said was
due TO toothache At IL o'clock at night
witness asked Thornton how he felt
and ne replied "firstrate." Witness
stated that he had had long expert
ence with drunken persons, and he
saw nothing the matter with Thornton
except case of drunkenness. The
witness introduced the receipt book
which Thornton had signed after re-
ceiving his valuables.
Sergt. A. Frank Mowry of the Fourth
station, testified that Thornton during
the evening seemed to be greatly un-
der the influence of liquor. Thornton
did not complain OF any injury or did
not show any marks of injury.
The sworn certificate OF Medical Ex-
amlner LOnS1ellON. WHO lndue the du-
topsy on the remains of Thornton. was
received by Coroner Phillips and was
added To the testimony already gath
cred According to the medical exam
iners report, Thorntons death was
caused by a clot of blood on the base
of the brain, as already told in The
News.
Peter Gormley, a police officer at
tached to the Fourth station, testified
that early on Thursday morning, Sen
tember %, he went into the cell to see
Thornton with Sergt Mowry, and at
that time Thornton said he felt pretty
welr except that his tooth 'hurt him.
The witness corroborated the testimony
of Sergt. Mowry. About o'clock In
the morning Thornton began to scream
fire" and murder" and on witness
asking him what he wanted. he replied:
Il want to get out of the d place;
it's on fire. At a quarter past Thorn
ton appeared to be all right, although
intoxicated. and he signed the book for
his watch and pocketbook. Sergt. Gill
martin had charge of the prisoners
taken from the station to the court.
George II. Sims. janitor of the Fourth
station, testified that about 6 o'clock in
the morning, while he was attending TO
his work in the station. Thornton called
him by name and asked him for a drink
of water. He asked Thornton what he
was there for. and the prisoner an
swered: "One Of the same old drunks.
] guess"