The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-06-13
Continued from page one.

tOnAlHutu ldSN CHN'
broaden these rules after the trial has
been concluded.
"Of course, II is one thing to make up
ones mind. and IL is quite another thing
TO make up your mind entirely on the evil
dence; but | do not wish 10 be under
stood as having said that / have yet
made UP my mind as TO the chiefs guilt
or innocence. as ] have been Incorrectly
reported as having done.
"No member OF the board has yet stated
at any meeting OF the board how he in
tended to vote on this question; and, so
far as / can see, we are about where we
started
1--WE met yesterday and considered GER
tain phases OF the evidence. and conclud-
cd that the advice OF the city solicitor
might be necessary TO decide certain legal
points.
These related to whether certain evil
deuce was corroborative. etc There were
no hot arguments I'm the board, though
there was some divergence OF opinion as
would be expected when any three men
consider any important subject. That is
all there is TO the case at present"
Commissioner Harold ]. Gross was seen
by a representative OF the News Demo
erat and asked what was his attitude re
garding the consideration Of matters known
10 the board. but not presented In evil
dence.a
when took the oath Of office as police
commissioner OF the city OF Providence.
said Col Gross, Il obligated myself 10
act according TO my best judgment.
have not departed from that obligation,
and do not intend 10 do so.
II have carefully avoided any outside
discussion of this case. believing that in
the board room was the proper place to
consider II.
Il shall vote on this question as l am
convinced the evidence before us justifies
me in voting, and regardless OF any ex-
ternal considerations whatever"
Asked whether any pressure had been
brought upon him 10 vote one way or
the other. Mr.. Gross said with apparent
sincerity:
"No person has asked me how | intend
to vote. and none has suggested any
course for me to follow. / would not
stand for IL a moment.
II have been asked by friends, even
| casual acquaintances as have all the
commissioners, l suppose, questions about
| the case: but have given nobody any
reason 10 believe he understood how / in
| tended TO vote. Not even my brother here
| knows that.
"And / will say this" continued Col
| Gross with emphasis: II do not believe
that any one will have the slightest rea-
son 10 doubt how and why l voted when
| / cast my vote tomorrow, should a vote
| be taken then.
Personal friendships are one thing my
| oath of Office is quite another; and l shall
| do what L consider 10 be my duty, re-
gardless OF any and all other considera-
| tons"
This seems TO be the popular impression
| of Col. Gross attitude.
| Some people who do not know the
| colonel personally, but judge him as they
| judge some others who occupy positions
| OF honor and profit which sometimes in
| f1uence their occupants to act other than
as conscience dictates. have assumed that
Col. Gross is a man OF the same stamp.
Those who know him. however say they
| know better, and refuse to even enter
| tain the suggestion that he will depart
! from his lifelong course OF doing his
| duty as he sees IL merely for the sake of
temporary personal consideration or In re-
sponse to any pressure brought to bear
| through political channels.
| Commissioner Lewis j. Pierce said: ~
| believe we should stick closely 10 the evil
| dence in this case and / shall vote as the
| weight of the evidence inclines me 10
vote. j do not care 60 discuss the case.
| Whatever i may have to say will be said
| TO the board"
1t was learned today that no individual
| consultations have been held by member.
| of the board; bat all the discussion Of this
| case has been in the board.
Perons who have been betting that the
| verdict would be for or against the chief
| seem TO have had no encouragement from
a majority OF the commissioners, and the
majority rules In the police board as else
where.
Those who are best qualified to guess
as 10 the verdict seem to be I'm grave
doubt, though others who believe they
know the commissioners say they have
excellent reason TO believe that the right
thinking people OF Providence will have
no fault 10 find with the decision when IL
is made known.