The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-12-27
WITNESSES
OFFERED
TO SELL OUT

The trial OF a complaint for assault
evidently did not terminate In the sixth
district court today as had been an
ticipated, and a civil suit for 5000 dam
ages may not be urged with the same
degree OF earnestness that II would have
been. had not the criminal complaint
fallen through.
the consequent civil action was the sale
I OF a liquor saloon on -Delaine street by
! James LAvell 10 John NJ Goodrich
4 Mr.. Goodrich is not resident or Rhode
J Island and there developed a hitch in the
transfer OF the license. which had not
at all been counted upon.
Mr.. Goodrich called at Lavells whole
sale place, Friday, Dec. 18th. and told
Sidney Lee. the former owner Of the
saloon, that Mr. Lavel could come out
and take the saloon as he, Goodrich, had
been skinned"
I the Following day Lavelle and Lee
drove out 20 Delaine street intending to-
pacify Goodrich who was OF a peppery
disposition and needed advice to be reae-
oned with. so they thought.
When they reached the saloon they
found that a keeper was there the prop
erty having been attached.
Advising Goodrich TO pay that claim
and to adjust a smaller bill for goods,
Lavelle told him that all he had TO do
was to keep quiet. do business and leave
to the police commission an adjustment
OF the license matter.
A few hot words followed and then so
Goodrich avowed. under oath today he
was pushed up into corner, I.avelle
choking him and thrusting a knee against
his abdomen, while Lee ohoked him and
Lavelle kicked him In the abdomen.
That afternoon writ in an action OF
velle.
In support OF Goodrichs story two men,
Maloney and Casey, who had been In the
barroom took oath that the affair hap
pened jut as Goodrich had related II.
Two, physicians for the complainant
testified that Goodrich suffered severe
pain az a result Of this assault.
Three for the defense. who examined
Goodrich <%e following Wednesday, were
equally confdant that there was nothing
whatever the matter with Goodrich.
They had not been told In advance
what injuries Goodrich was said to have
received so they went on still hunt
to locate his troubles after he had re-
lated how he was hurt
There were no marks on the throat and
no bruises on the abdomen.
The supposed points OF injury and the
intensity Of pain under manipulation
physicians distracted the patients at
tention while they thumped him and
played the kettle drum act.
Iavelle testified that when he went
to the saloon to advise Goodrich the
latter went for him To prevent bodily
arm he first held Goodrich by the shirt
front and then by one wrist
Breaking away, I,svelle seized a chair
and held II In front Of him as shield |
until he could make good his escape.
Lee, the other respondent, after sep |
arating the two men, ducked out OF the |
saloon and got away.
Two DAYS later Casey and Maloney |
called at Lavelles. said that Goodrich |
had sent TO Boston to get $500 10 pay /
to them for testifying in his behalf; but |
that for s25 paid TO each they would
prefer TO swear for Lavelle. IL was mp !
to him what he would do.
OBTAINING them for few minutes La
velle went 10 CHIEF Matthews Office, told
him OF the ofrer made by the two Olney-
VILE men and asked for advice.
The chief detailed Detectives Byron and.
Haran, who went 20 Lavelle's place OF
business and netened attentively as La
velle opened up the conversation anew
and the offer TO sell out 10 the defence
was repeated
About this stage OF the proceedings one
of the men caught on that the detectives
were piping of the trick and slipped out.
The other followed soon after: but re-
turning presently said that he didn't care
anything for detectives that with him
this was purely business proposition.
In the furtherence OF which Lavelle
,ouid put up or shut up
About here the bottom dropped out OF
he prosecution and after brief arfu-
nents the court decided that Messrs Ia
yelle and Lee who had been tried Jointly,
we're not guilty.