The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-05-29
CR|STY-MATTHEWS
HEARINGS CLOSED

Mash and Meinhold have deliberately
falsified under oath in your presence. re-
fer 30 the flower stand incident Nash
during the contempt hearing testified
that the flower stand belonged 10 him,
and that on Easter Sunday he had flow
ers there worth about $50. and that be-
cause OF the action OF the police those
flowers could not be sold and were thrown
away and that he suffered nearly total
loss Nash and Meinhold are fatty CONTRA
Gictcd by officer Hayden and Joseph
kappelman
"NGsh and his manager would have you
believe that the chief OF police called at
their place OF business and asked them TO
Join with him I'm fraudulent scheme 10
lnjure the reputation OF wen-known
clergyman, and without securing final
answer went away and never returned
10 learn whether or not his request would
be granted They would have you believe
that he proposed a scheme which would
have been defeated the moment IL was
consummated Would Mr.. Cristy stnad
mute when the proposed exposure was
made and he was condemned for passing
improper pictures? Would he not imme-
dIately have declared the whole thing
fraud? Would he not have been able TO
tell JUS what pictures he had passed ana
what had been inserted afterwards by
Nash or Meinhod. and would he not have
been believed?"
"Would the chief make such an effort
10 discredt Mr. Cristy and then, within
n few days when Mr.. Cristy's character
was questioned by responsible citizen.
rush 10 his defence as Mr.. Selleck says
he did? What was the chief 10 gain by
the success Of the fraud on Mr.. Cristy
which 1t is said he proposed?
Even granting that the chief desired
that Mr.. Luther should fail of reappoint-
ment. l submit that the shot was very
long one 10 play and too doubtful for
any reasonable man TO propose
Judge Lyman then summarized his view
of the case. endeavoring TO show the
entire innocence OF Chief Matthews in
anything like a conspiracy against Mr.
Cristy. and explained the chain Of events
In accordance with what he regarded as
probable and reasonable. acquitting Chief
Matthews Of any improper or unworthy
purpose whatever.
Continuing Judge Lyman said: "Mr.
Cristy was In a state Of mind that nat
urally led him TO accept and believe all
the tatements I'm the affdavits. and i'm
mediately prepared the charges now before
you. His desire TO strike back at the sup
posed author OF his fanoied wrongs would
brook no delay. He GOULD not walt until
the regular meeting Of this board on the
following Tuesday. but summoned your
the charges and affdavits He was not
content there must be public exposure
of his victim.
Violating the established practise OF
this board and the courtesy due you under
the circums tances. he furnished to repre-
sentatives OF the press full copies OF his
charge and the afidavits. which were
published In full and widely circulated
before the originals had reached your
files. Such action on the part OF Mr.
Cristy was manifestly unfair and is called
TO your attention to show the nature of
the feeling which prompted him In making
his charges.
II believe what / have said Is a fair
and comprehensive review of the essen
tial facts. II anything OF Importance has
been omitted by me, / know that II will
be found by you in your examination OF
the record and that II will be given care
full consideration.
II am convinced, and believe that you
will be. that the complainant has failed
TO suhstantiate his charges. and that
Frank A. Matthews has never desired or
attempted to injure the good name and
reputation Of Albert b. Cristy."
At the conclusion OF Judge Lyman
argument, Mr.. Cristy addressed the
board.