The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-05-17

| ing the filing OF the charges TO whicn
Nash made affidavit
The attorneys sought to show that
strange men had followed Nash and his
wife; that the witness Guild, who said
he came from n man who sat at the
hearing" must have told Nash far more
In the nearly two hours he spent with him
at the Crown hotel than he testified TO
telling; that II was utterly improbable
that Guild left his home after 10 o'clock
at night for the simple purpose OF telling
Nash the police had heard a rumor that
Nash intended TO flee from the city; that
he could have entrusted that message to
the telephone just as well. as he says
Commissioners Pierce had done and that,
not having done so In his great solicltude
for Nash, he need not have remained In
deep conversation at the hotel until the
lights were put out and then continued
the conversation on the streets.
Regardless OF the question whether this
was all that Guild had TO tell Nash. and
whether Guild ever even talked with Com
missioner Lewis j. Pierce about the case,
Guilds statement seemed 10 strike most
OF his aud - as somewhat improbable
To say the .vast.
Mr.. PIERCE's ATTITUDE.
Commissioner Pierce, who had sat
through the hearing during Guilds testi-
mony of Nash with hardly an Interrupt
sioner Gross had taken great pains 10
make II plain that neither of them could
be the man referred TO by either Guild or
Nash, took umbrage yesterday at a state
ment by Attorney Rice that Guild was
protecting friend
No one had yet officially informed the
board so far as the newspaper men have
been Informed. that any pains had been
taken TO prove that Guild had ever talked
with Mr.. Pierce, and his statement that
he got any Information whatever from
Mr.. Pierce had been entirely unsupported
Mr. Pierce had not questioned Guild
while the latter was testifying. as Colonel
Gross had done. and the public would
have been entirely in doubt concerning
the fact that any conversation had taken
place at ALL had not Mr.. Pierce yesterday.
purely In order to resent what ne called
an insnuation, but which City Solicitor
Baker could not see In that light taken
occasion TO say that he had made an ex-
planation to the board and was ready 10
make oath TO IL II necessary
Judge Bymans insistence upon resent
ing any insinuation against any member
OF the board: his declaration that he was
protecting the board against his brother
attorney Mr.. Rice, was resented by Mr..
Baker, the judge advocate, whose duty u
was to see that the trial was conducted I'm
seemly and orderly manner
Mr.. Baker could not see wherein Judge
Lyman, who appeared as counsel for
Chief OF Police Matthews, and not as In
any sense representing Commissioner
Pierce or any other member OF the board.
was at all concerned In the Pierce Rice
controversy. and Mr.. Baker said so very
plainly.
OF course. Judge Lyman knew this: but
II was a shrewd bit OF professional by-
play on his part. and might reasonably be
expected 10 have weight with the board
Throughout the hearing. the judges has
been thoroughly alert TO the interests OF
his client suave and strenuous by turns
and has permitted nothing. that could be
prevented. 10 get into the records against
the chief OF police. while he has dexter
ously slipped I'm quite a number OF things
which he seemed to think calculated to in
jure tht cause OF Messrs Cristy and Nash
The lawyers have been the most edify-
Ing exhibit OF the trial their passages al
arms affording abundant interest for all
concerned. while the city solicitor has
calmly interposed when the Judge advo-
Gates thermometer showed that a threat
ening temperature had arisen or legal
sparring threatened TO block the wheels
p of prngreasr-
MATTHEW'S AND NASH
The chief has been calm and silent gem
orally. whispering even less to his at
torney than Nash has done to Mr.. Cam
ming; but he has held many conferences
with Judge Lyman. and has had the
best advice that astute counsellor has
been able TO give within or without the
police commission chamber
Nash has appeared calm, even conf
dent, during the trial and has frequently
prompted his counsel when a hostile wit
ness was on the stand, always scoring
some point that served 10 show that the
witness had real or fancied grievance
for which he was striving TO get
square"
The commissioners have devoted their
attention almost exclusively to clearing
up the side issues connected with the
hearing. sidetracking everything else TO
that end.
They have been patient and have inva-
riably sustained the city solicitor, upon
whose advice they rely I'm making rulings
on law points
They have also shown n disposition 10
act with commendable energy In the alb
sence OF the city solicitor. whenever 1t
appeared that disgressions upon the part
OF counsel would hopolessly involve mat
ters and have politely but firmly told the
lawyers 10 never mind that, go ahead
. with the evidence"
Mr. Canning's argument yesterday
afternoon which was not concluded nj
the hour this edition went 20 press. was
n very exhaustive review OF the evidence.
I'm which he brought ont many telling
points In favor OF his client and against
the police authorities and Guild.
After hts preliminary consideration Of
the case. ne continued:
''lt Is a very significant thing that GER
tain things that had occurred only In the
city OF Providence had ~been mentioned
by Victorine after his talk with Shea
This man Shea told MIR. Comstock ne was
not hcre for any special purpose. but with
regard to the charges be told Mr.. Com
stock THAI II was foolish for q man TO
fight the police; that Mash should go
slow.
do you think Mr. COmstock or any
OF her Ia vyver would corue hs.ra an,i tcu,lf,,