Norwich bulletin., 1910-06-30
WESTERLY AND VICINITY
Soldiers Beat Negro Farm HandEirst Wedding in Will Park-Hustling Work on Fave atucz Valley ztfe=t Railway-FIarvard Alumni Reunion a Watch Hill.

A negro farm hand employed by Courtland P. Chapman at Avondale was severely beaten by party of sol diers from Fort Mansfield Tuesday night in revenge for an assault made by the negro upon a soldier a short time before. The story goes-that on the up trip from Watch Hill on a trolley car. the negro pushed the sol dier from the car and became decided ly defiant towards the other soldiers. The negro got off the car at Avon dale and so did half a dozen soldiers. They bounced upon the negro and gave him a terrible beating with fists and feet, severely cutting and bruising him with blows and kicks They beat him until they tired and left him by the roadside, and then beat a retreat in order to avoid discovery.
 It is said that the negro had spite against the soldier assaulted and had attacked him on several occasions.
 The fracas was not reported to the police nor to the military authorities at Fort Mansfield.
 Supt. Charles E. Coon, who is re- sponsible for tfe fine appearance of Wilcox park, unexpectedly acted as best man 9t a marriage ceremonial in the park. Wednesday morning. Rev. John NJ. Collins was at the residence of his son-in- law, John Reardon, the park policeman, when a couple called to get married. Superintendent Coon was invited in as an official witness. Miss Bessie Reardon being the other witness of the ceremony
 The Reardon home is the only res idence in the park confines and this was the first marriage in Wilcox park although it is possible that several en- agreements have been consummated there The marriage was that of-Gor- don Nffchie and Mrs. Catherine Patton, both of Westerly.
 Naturally, while the construction work on the Pawcatuck Valley street railway is going on, there is necessity tor transfer of passengers, from one car to another at points where the old rails are taken up and being replaced by new, the passengers being required to walk short distance in making the transfer. Here is where the troll ley management comes in for public condemnation. the passengers expect ing the impossible in road building without the suspension of traffic, but still crying for improvement of the old system that never satisfied. little patience and common sense would be a good antidote for the unreasonable grumblers-
 The contractors are going forward with the work as rapidly a. possible, and General Manager Sewen is also giving the reconstruction of the road his personal attention, and is fully as anxious to have the work completed as is the most exacting passenger. The highway committee is working in con cert with the trolley road management and thereby the public inconvenience is reduced to the minimum.
 In connection with the construction of the new James A. Weich three story brick building in Broad street oppo- site the Memorial and Public Library building. opportunity will be given for permanent improvement by widening the sidewalk four feet. MT. Welch will erect the front of his building four feet back from his present build ing line and give the strip four feet wide along the Broad street front of his property to Union street. provided the town will establish a building line in conformity herewith. This will necesstate the removal of the front extension of Mr. Welch's building on the corner, which would probably ne rem Odeled to conform to the archttec- ture of the new building. So that in addition to giving the land for i,u.nljc use. MT. Welch would be at consider able expense in changing the front of am; Union streets
 The only other property effected ny the change would be the First Baptist church which adjoinS the property of NIT. Welch. The church edifice ;ta1Gs well back from the present line, tke bottom step of the front entrance be- ing about on the proposed new line.