The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-05-28
INQUEST BEGUN
into V|TR|0l
THROWING CASE

Inc inquest was commenced yesterday
oy Coroner Eugene Lincoln into the
death OF William Clinton at the Rhode
island hospital. 1t was brought out that
the man left that institution four days
after his first admission and was for
nearly two weeks without treatment.
Mr.. Clinton was a storekeeper at West
harrington. and had a woman named
Mrs. Sarah Janson as housekeeper. on
tne night OF April man whom Mrs.
Janson declares was her husband. whom
she was suing for a divorce, visited the
place, and she alleged that he threw
Nitrlol upon Mr.. Clinton and herself.
Mrs. Sarah Janson was the first wit
ness. About 3 o'clock on Saturday night
April 8, she said. she was sitting in the
kitchen, which was located in the rear
or the store. mending clothing. She con-
II heard my husbands voice in the
store and stepped to the door and told
Mr.. Clinton who the man was. My hus-
pand called for soda and asked me to
drink with him. I refused. Mr.. Clinton
told him that he didn't want any trou-
BILE. and said that he usually closed up
ABOUT o'clock, and wanted him to leave
MY husband said that he had come TO
Kill mo and Mr.. Clinton. He pulled
bottle from his coat and threw the con-
tents into Mr.. Clintons face. He was
standing behind the counter. My hus-
band then rushed into the kitchen and
chased me into the entry. where he tried
to pour the contents OF the bottle on to
my face and eyes. / put my apron over
my face. but some OF the stuff went on
my face, burning me. Mr.. Graden, who
had followed my husband into the store,
struggle my husband bit Mr.. Graden on
the finger. l succeeded In making my
escape and ran out of the house, and a
few minutes later my husband came out
sAf tha fin1a ~ the a Saatt1f M huQhan6
did not show any indications OF having
been drinking. / had not seen my hus-
band before that morning for about two
weeks. since ! saw him at the lawyer $
office. He had never made any complaint
or threat against where / was living
DIR. Arthur Il. Platt OF Riverside told
of being called to the house OF Mr.. Gibbs.
opposite the store of William Clinton. He
caused by some strong caustic. These
burns extended from the top OF the head
down over the side of the forehead and
face and the eye closed. the cornea being
blurred and smoky. He advised that the
injured man be taken to the Rhode ISL
and hospital. and made arrangements for
his removal thereto.
DR.. Henry w. Hopkins OF Warren was
the next witness. He said he was called
to treat the two victims.
Reuben A. Gibbs, storekeeper and post
master at West Darlington. said that he
had known William Clinton for nearly IA
years.
ION the evening of April g." he said.
l was called TO his house by Mrs. jan
son. his housekeeper. This was about s;Su
o'clock. found everything in state OF
kind. the door leading from the store TO
the kitchen being torn from its hinges.
Mr.. Clinton was pacing about the house,
his face covered with liquid or some
kind. Mrs. Janson was also there.
my first knowledge of the affair was
by hearing a woman scream. She came
into the store and said hes shot, ne
shot When l heard her screams. my
first thought was that robbers had struck
the town, and i turned out my electric
lights Mrs. Janson then said: They
are fighting over there. He has thrown
something on me. Can't you get a doc
and DR.. Hopkins of Warren. also Chief oi
Police Bowden by telephone"
Frederick Graden of West Darlington
who was in the store at the time OF the
assault, said that he had known Mr.
Clinton for five years. He continued:
ION the night OF April i was a pas
senger on a car from Providence to my
home, which Is opposite Clinton's store
Janson was on the same car and wanted
the conductor to let him of at Clinton's
store This was a few minutes after
o'clock. Janson went into Clinton's store
and followed him to purchase some TO
bacco. Janson was talking with Clintor
who was behind the counter. While Jan
son was drinking soda Mrs. Janson came
TO the screen door between the store ane
the kitchen and her husband asked hel
three times to take drink with him. Sh'
refused.
Clinton refused to sell him any more
soda. Janson pulled bottle from his hiI
pocket and said I'm going TO kill both o.
you He then began to throw the content:
all about the room. Much OF 1t went or
Clinton and some of II on me.
"Janson then turned and ran into the
kitchen after his wife. He chased hel
into the entry and knocked her down anc
began to throw some of the liquid on her
rushed TO her assistance and had hare
struggle, during which my finger was bad
lv bitten. Mrs Janson succeeded In get
ting out of the entry during our strug
GLE"
Samuel +. Bowden, chief OF police o.
harrington, who was called after the as
sault was also a witness.