The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-02-18

The board of police commissioners have
reached a decision in the case OF Nc
Laughlin VS.. Clark.
The delay. almost a week, was caused
by the indisposition of Mr.. Deming.
Secretary Gee made a transcript of the
notes of the evidence and sent it TO Mr..
Deming who simply perused the copy,
yesterday.
The result was that when the office was
opened for business today the announce
ment was made that Sergeant George n.
Clark had been exonerated and the
charges preferred by DR. Mclaughlin OF
conduct unbecoming an officer, were dis
missed.
These charges grew out of the rescue
of DR.. McTaughln's sister-in-law, by
Sergeant Clark, from the chilly waters
of Roger Williams park.
The sergeant wanted TO escort the
shivering woman TO the boathouse that
her clothes might be dried and the danger
of pneumonia averted.
The doctor was for escorting her TO
n street car and giving her a long ride
in her wet clothes. 20 the city. Both
men spoke quickly and the doctor thought
that the sergeant had used improper
language toward him. From the decir-
ion OF the commissioners IL would seem
that the doctor had labored undera mis-
apprehension.
This afternoon there was another kind
OF a seance at the office OF the commits
sioners.
There have been several raids OF late
and some visits made TO drug stores
where bottled beer was i'm evidence i'm
quantities which did not seem to be such
as a legitimate business would call for
In some places. where Sunday visits
were made, glasses stained with beer and
bottles that had recently been emptied
were found in back rooms.
The druggists were called upon to ex-
plain and some of them presented excuses
which couldn't stand without crutches
and an overhead sling to hold them up.
The board heard these explanations and
issued an order to several wholesalers
TO appear before them at o'clock this
afternoon and still further elucidate as 10
the supplies furnished to the aforesaid
druggists
In view of the fact that all wholesalers
were warned. weeks ago, that IL they
We're caught selling to people who sold
again and illegally, their licenses would
be summarily revoked. the hearing OF this
afternoon had a double significance.
a hearing will be given to the proprle-
tor of the Hotel Girard, Thursday after
noon.
Between p. m last Saturday and s p.
m. Sunday, about $50 persons were seen
TO enter the Grard
Inasmuch as the hotel register did not
record the presence OF anywhere near
that number OF guests an official investi-
cation was decided upon.
This was made by Capt. Mathews and
Lieut.. Lawrence, who found, so IL is
claimed. several men sitting at tables.
These were drinking beer and had not,
so far as could be seen, been served with
any food as an excuse for the presence
of the beer.
There are several more serious charges
under consideration i'm connection with
other places, actual sales claimed To have
been made contrary TO law.
Appeals have been taken from sentences
impos upon the accused admitting suf-
ncieut evidence TO convict which. under
the law. IL not a conviction, and cannot
be until final action In the court 10 which
an appeal has been taken.
10 may be three. IL may be six months