The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-09-26
SKULL WAS
FRACTURED
What Autopsy on Thorn
tons Body Showed.
CLOT OF BLOOD ON BRAIN.
Capt. Marston's Story Of Arrest and
Filming OF Thornton.
THE TROUBLE WITH WATERMAN

Yesterday an autopsy was performed
on the body of Charles Thornton, the
Scituate road house keeper, who died on
Saturday after beins unconscious TWO
days. Thornton came to town Thurs-
day night, and while drunk, attempted
To run down two wheelmen, one OF
whorl was Warren Waterman. Thorn
ton followed Waterman to the latter's
gate and struck at him. Waterman,
who is of exemplary character, ma
chnist and an athlete lodged and
swung i'm one blow. which lifted Thorn
ton off his feet and threw him on his
back. Then he reported the case TO the
police, who arrested Thornton and hned
him for drunkenness. Thornton went
home and soon after became uncon-
scious and gradually grew weaker till
death ensued.
SKULL WAS FRACTURED.
The autopsy was conducted by Medi-
cal Examiner Longfellow of Olneyville,
Medical Examiner Palmer of Provi-
dence and DR.. II. r. Bert of Johnston.
The surgeons arrived at Thornton's
hours were passed i'm making most
thorough inquiry. This was essential,
for upon their report the future liberty
of Warren Waterman, the foreman at
the Builders iron foundry, may largely
depend. The doctors found that there
were injuries of a fatal character, re-
ceived from violence and fall 1rac-
ture on the back Of the skull, just above
the base of the brain, was of sufficient
4. In, tn
the brain there was a clot OF blood
which covered a considerable portion or
the back part of the right lobe, imme-
diately adjoining the fracture. Under
this clot there had been breaking
down of the brain tissue.
CAPT MARSTON'S STATEMENT.
In speaking of the unfortunate affair
Cant Marston of the Fourth police sta
| ton SAYS: Thornton was brought IN
as a prisoner after the row with Water
man. The latter told the officers that
| he had struck Thornton. who was drunk
| and abusive toward him. Thornton ap-
| peared to be very drunk. There was
| nothing to indicate he was in any way
| injured. While he was in his cell ne
| talked to me on several occasions ano
| never complained about any WOUNDS
! He appeared before the Police Court
Judge without assistance and was nneu
| Then he was taken in charge Dy q
| friend. who carried him away to Scitu-
ate. When f. S. Gage, the friend oi
| Thornton's. appeared at the station
| Wednesday night, he was unable TO IN
| duce Thornton to consent TO go away
with him. If Thornton had been at al
sober. he would have been paroled upor
| the request of his friend, who onereo
| to give the surety that he would appear
| i'm the Police Court the next day.
| WATERMAN STRAIGHTFORWAR
Capt. Marston further said: water
man was honest about the whole case
| He said Thornton was drunk, and M
| also added that he struck the man on'
| blow in self-defenCe At that time W.
saw no necessity for arresting Water
man. for we knew him perfectly wei
as a respectable citizen and could easil!
find him at any time when wanted
There was nothing at any time Whil
| Thornton was in confinement TO war
rant his being sent to the hospital.
| After the autopsy was concluded al
undertaken took charge of the body am
proceeded with arrangements for tn
funeral. The coroner will probably hol'
an inuuest on the death of Thornton
some time this week