The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1906-05-08

pllclty or the chief or police and his
| friends In the disappearance OF Nash,
as he alleged, under threats.
The city solicitor advised the board TO
proceed with the hearing as these were
cognate questions.
Thereupon Judge Richard F. Lyman
counsel for the chief, filed with the board
the following statement:
The chief OF police understands that
the present proceeding on the part OF the
board is In the nature OF an investigation
TO determine whether or not John b.
Nash, In absenting himself from the hear
lngs ordered by said board. upon the
charges against Frank A. Matthews by
A. H. Cristy, Is In contempt, and that
the present proceeding Is not in support
OF any charge against himself (sald Mat
thews) for intlmidating the said John y.
Nash; and, further he. the saIa Mat
thews. desires TO place himself upon rec
ord as follows:
Ihat In asking questions at his hear
Ing, he does so for the purpose of as
sisting the board in arriving at a proper
conclusion In the matter of the alleged
contempt OF John B. Nash, and that In SO
doing he does not assume the position OF
defendant or a person under investiga-
ton"
Tho Following charges were preferred
by Mr.. Cristy, following a communica-
uon along the same line sent by him to
the board last week:
Providence May s.
TO the Honorable Board OF Police Com
missioners OF the City of Providence:
hereby charge that John b. Nash,
witness In my charges against Frank A
Metthews. was intimidaued and finally
driven from tho city, so that he did not
appear and testify before you on Thurs
uay, May g. by series OF acts and com
munications from and by certain persons
presumably agents and In the interests of
SAID Frank A. Matthews. said acts and
from April 10 to May 4, OF and which re-
suited In tho Night OF said John b. Nash
on or about the morning OF May 4, where
contempt before this board. and whereby
] was prevented from receiving the bene-
1T OF his testimony.
therefore request that. in accordance
WITH your assurance that you would give
me the opportunity at any time to present
any evidence / might desire to place be-
Tore YOU TO substantiate such a charge
or intimidation, which you gave me when
i made verbal charge against said
Frank A. Matthews at the hearing May q
you VIII grant me the opportunity to pro-
duce such witnesses and evidence as may
substantiate 30 grave a charge.
And l further request that n You de-
eide that said John B. Nash was so I'm
undated and driven off, whether IL be
shown TO have been by said Frenk A
Matthews or by those who acted in his
interests. you VIII reopen the case against
mony OF John b. Nash I'm that case. and
OF such other witnesses as NAV be
brought TO eorroborate his testimony or
10 establish his character and reputation
for truth and veracity
81 am yours truly,
"A. b. CRIST-Y"
Chief Matthews, through his counsel
made formal denial that by word or
deed he had intimidated or Influenced
any OF Mr.. Cristy's witnesses
Here Mr. Cristy asked IN ha aIlowa5
To consult counsel at the noon hour;
and City Solicitor Baker ruled that
this was permissible
Mr.. Baker then took up the examina-
tion OF Mr.. Nash as 10 the telephone
communications he claimed TO have
received from Mr.. Victorine, manager
OF his place at Fall River.
These communications, In substance
appeared I'm the News exclusively last
Saturday. and related TO what he
claimed Police Inspector Shea OF Fall
River had told him he ought 20 do
to avoid trouble with the Providence
police.
ne CsheD was to suggest some
way" testified Mr. Nash. that was
TO get rid OF testifying In the
case against Mr.. Matthew'S"
"a telegram dated Fall River. May 4.
read: Drop everything until you see
me; .:v,N, VIC, - v,.,o.,.. -, =. -.
over to see Nash last Friday. and met
him In Richard b. Comstock's ofice.
Victorine then told OF overhearing n
conversation at the railroad station. in
which n person said he thought II was
the best thing Nash could do 10 go
away and the worst thing TO come
back.
lie also said that "a lawyer was all
right in the first place, but a 'hxer'
was what was wanted at this time"