The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-05-13

Champiin on March 4, addressed Pa
trolman Phelps on Broad street near
Eddy street, and asked where he could
get Pawtuxet car.
Phelps saw one coming told Champlin.
who told him, Phelps, mot TO be too
fresh with his club"
The officer told Chsmplin, who had been
drinking. TO get aboard his car.
When Champlin reached the car plat
form he thumbed his nose at the officer.
Phelps moved up to the car TO arrest
Champlin.
struggle took place. both men fell
from the yestibule of the car and In the
fan, Champlin's skull was fractured.
The injured man at once became un-
conscious and an hour later he died.
Phelps was relieved from duty by Chief
Matthews at the suggestion OF the board
of police, commissioners.
Coroner Lincoln held an inquest, the
evidence being of such character that
he felt impelled TO make complaint upon
which Phelps was arrested. Bail was
given and the complaint was from time TO
time continued until today, when Mr..
Willard Il. Tanner. counsel for the de-
fendant elected TO go TO trial that the
states case might be disclosed.
Mr. Tanner requested that all the wit
nesses be excluded from the court room
until each was called upon TO testify, and
that after leaving the witness stand they
be not allowed TO return 10 the room
where the others, who were yet 10 be
heard were i'm waiting.
Judge Sweetland granted the request.
The wisdom of this procedure was mani
tested when the witnesses without being
conscious of the fact contradicted each
other on material points.
CONDUCTORS STORY.
Melville o. Rogers conductor on the
Ruttonwoods line of cars, testified that
on the morning OF March he was in
charge OF the car upon which the acci-
dent happened.
AT 1922 O'Clock Champlin got aboard
the car spoke 10 him, then facing out
ward, thumbed his nose at a police Of
ncer who was standing upon the side
walk The car was then moving slowly.
Next he saw the officer approaching
the car diagonaly, step upon the car
step and say to the man, Champlin, Il
want you
Then the officer put his hand on
Champlin's shoulder As he did SO
Champln said, mo. you don't"
The car was vestibuled and Champlin
stepped away from the entrance of the
vestibule toward the closed side thereof.
The officer stepped between the wit
ness and the door of the car and
stumbled as he did so.
The witness rung the bell TO stop the
car because he thought there was TO be
trouble. as the men were near the steps.
When the bell had been given to the
motorman the conductor looked around
and saw that Champln was lying upon
the ground and that he was bleeding
from the nose.
Another officer came up and finding
that Champlin was unconscious helped
the first named ofhcer 10 carry MIN 10
Handy's drug store.
Champlin had been drinking, but not
to such an extent that he was unfit 10
be taken as passenger on that car.
In cross -exaimnation the witness said
that his face was turned from the Of
ficer and Champlin when he reached up
TO ring the bell and he could not say
whether or not the officer pushed or
dragged or tried to push or drag
Champlin off the car step.
He saw Champlin have hold of the Of
fcer saw them crowd over To and strike
the closed door OF the vestibule.
In the next breath he withdrew that
statement and said at no time did he
see Champln have hold of the officer
Both men stumbled over something
and dropped TO their knees. Which got
up first he couldn't say. The last he
saw was that Phelps was down on his
bule door. and Champlin was in the
street.
The witness did not see Sergt Doe or
any other person get upon the car step
at the time Phelps and Champlin were
there.
IMPORTANT STATEMENT.
most important statement was here
made by the witness.
He was standing near the open entrance
Of the vestibule. This vestibule is feet
wide
After he had rung the bell he looked
out of the car and saw Champlin In the
street
H. Rogers had been standing against
the controller 80 that Champlin must
have passed In front OF him To get OF the
car: but he couldn't tell how Champlin
Tot by him.
At the time he saw Champlin in the