The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-08-03
North Dangerously Hurt
In Liquor Saloon.
WAS HE STRUCK BY cuEa
Foster Said So at First, but Later
Changed His Story.
THOSE PRESENT ARE RETIcHNr.

James North. weaver, 40 years O.
age. Is lying at the Rhode Island Hos
pitai with his skull fractured and hi.
brain so seriously injured that IL is moi
believed that he can recover, all OF
which took place i'm OlneyvIlle last
evening. The affair appears to be
shrouded In more or less mystery. .owins
mainly TO the fact that the injured
man Is unconscious and no statement
can be obtained from him.
The trouble occurred An the saloon
known as the Union House, at No. II
Oineyville Square, and IL is said that
North had been around the place the
greater part OF the day People who
were In the saloon claim that North
simply fell and was not assaulted, but
several of them from time to time
made comments that North had beer.
looking for bother all day,and his being
hurt was what might have been ex-
The police do not believe the stories
tncse men tell, and they feel satisfied
that the mans serious injuries were
caused by some sort OF a fight.
MANY IN THE SALOON.
The affair happened about O'clock
and at that time in the saloon there
were. In addition TO North, the proprie-
tor or the place. Joseph Robinson: his
bartender, Alfred Ellis. and John Fos-
ter. Harry Schofeld James Schofield
and William Taylor. Robinson and
Ellis assert that they We're sitting in
the office when they heard somebody
or something fall. They found North
lying With his feet on the higher level
OF the pool room floor and his body
down on the saloon floor. with his head
resting near a foot rail i'm front OF the
bar at the end. DIR. Watts was at once
sent for and as soon as he had verified
the extent of the mans injuries, he
stitched bad scalp wound and sent
In call for the hospital ambulance.
INVESTIGATION BEGUN.
At this time, Officer Webb. who had
been informed that a man had been
Knocked out with billiard cue or a
bottle at the Union House, arrived,
and. after talking with the doctor, he
notified the Sixth station. Capt. Lea
witt was on hand very quickly and see
ng the condition of things, he sent for
Detective Merrill, who began work of |
Capt. Leavitt ordered
Ellis. the two Schoflelds and Taylor to
oe sent to the Sixth station. James |
Schoheld was so drunk that he was |
ocked up for intoxication. The other l
hree were held in the Office at the sta |
ion. AT midnight John Foster was |
brought to the station by Sergt. Morse. |
The sergeant stated that on his way |
o the station Foster had told him that |
Ie saw North felled by a blow from
'illiard cue, but did not know the man
fho struck the blow. but when he was
AIKEN into the captains room to be
uestioned by Capt, Leavitt and Detec-
I've Merrill, he evidently had forgotten |
much, for Foster claimed he did not
ee North hit. but told the same story
he others did. that the first he knew
{ Ii. was when he heard North fall.
lie denied that he told the sergeant he
aw North hit with anything or by
nybody. Foster was locked up on sus-
icion. but the other men were released.
At the hospital an operation was per-
)rmed on North In order to raise the
and fractured skull from the
rain. The man was very weak and
unconscious. He has wife, |
ut no children. They resinde at 81
oslin street. Mrs. North is employed
Fletcher's mills.