The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-10-31

REPLIES TO
VIM. P. BOWEN

1T has been my custom not To make re-
ply to anything OF personal nature said
about me in the heat OF political cam
mons today, "and were / not holding a
position in my party which make an at
tack upon me more or less OF alreifection
upon others l would not now depart from
that custom. Mr.. william NJ. j.. Bowen,
In his speech at Harrisville last evening.
apparently intended TO injure the Demo-
cratic party by reviving an outrageous
slander OF which i was some years ago
the victim. and l feel that ought briefly
to reply to tho statements of this man,
who. under other circumstances, l would
not consider worthy OF my attention.
During the 10 years that have passed
since the contested election in Lincoln.
TO which Mr.. Bowen makes reference, no
political leader I'm my own town In either
party has ever accused me of having had,
directly or indirectly anything whatever
TO do with the irregular polling OF bal
lots I'm that election. 1t has remained
for persons OF Mr.. Bowens size occa-
sionslly to suggest I'm cowardly fashion,
by innuendo that l was In some way re-
sponsibe for improper conduct In connec.
ton with that matter. Let me answer
and explain-and this will. tSust, be my
Bowen's remarkable address:
Mr.. Bowen Is quoted as saying:
After being fired out OF office. Mr..
Fitzsimmons left the state and his address
was not known for some time Whether
or not he anticipated further action in
the courts 1 cannot say
SO far from this being true. the facts
are these: I remained In the state
throughout the entire trial of the case,
appeared as witness-and only as wit.
-and testified fully; and IL Mr.. Bowen
had desired to be truthful l presume that
he might have secured the stenographic
report OF my testimony and the testimony
OF all others In that trial TO show wheth-
er I was, In any way. besmirched by the
same.
Now. as TO leaving the state: My
Youngest sister was at that time a stu
dent at Catholic academy at Notre
Dame, Ind. and having completed her
school work was eager to return home.
IL was the desire of my family and my
self that she should not make the trip
alone. and had arranged, prior TO the
election, TO go to Indiana TO accompany
her to Rhode Island. as / had accom-
panied her on all OF her school journeys
out of the state. AS IL was my sister was
put to the Inconvenience OF having to
remain In Indiana until after all of my
duties In connection with the case re-
ftrred to We're completed, and / only left
the state after being advised by the at
torneys In the case that the case was
closed and that there was no further iced
of my presence. l then went to IndiA.a
and brought my sister home. being absent
only few days. OF course II Is the veri-
est nonsense, TO give IL no uglier name,
10 suggest that my address was not
known. The attorneys on both sides OF
the case knew where / could be reached
by telegraph. and everybody acquainted
with me at home knew where had gone
and for what purpose.
Now with this answer an explanation
OF Mr.. Bowen's most serious charge
against me. let the public draw it's own
Is to the accuracy of any
thing else he may have said about me.
(Signed) FRANK e. FITZSIMMONS."