Norwich bulletin., 1912-12-16

The Rhode Island supreme court has 1 given decision against Joseph s. Grills of Westerly, arrested for emhzzlement over two years ago, and whose case l has been in the courts ever since. He was accused of appropriating to his own use monies received, as an alleg- ed banker to forward to the Bank of Rome. The plaintiffs were two 1tal- ians, resident in New London, where MT Grills had a sort of branch office at the store of a nephew. 1t was aS- certained that the money was never forwarded to the Bank of Rome and also that MT. Grills was not an au- thorized agent of that banking institu- tion. Grills did not deny the receipt of the money. about S1 200 at intervals, but said that the money wds received as deposits, with interest, and that he did not agree to send the money direct to Rome subject to withdrawal by rela- tives of the depositors. Grills reserved the right to invest the money on plans similar to those in vogue in regular banking institutions.
 Grills claimed that a fire and other losses interfered with anticipated prof its and that investments had not prov en profitable, bslt that he expected to recuperate the business. Just at that time depositors demanded the money, WDlcn NIT. kTTlllE tOtltu UOL piOuuNtg BNA agreed 10 reimburse the men if he were given time. His arresc and prosecution followed, and his attorney has taken every advantage of the law in behalf of his client to save him punishment but the highest tribunal in the stato has ruled against the defendant, and the accused must pay the penalty" At the first hearing in the Third district court one of the conplainants was ar rested on the charse of perjury and another was accuSeo of deTaring tho character and good will of Gtrills, but these matters were subsequently, ad- tusted without court rulings.
 The opinion of the supreme court Is given by Justice Vincent. All the re- apOndenrs exceptions are overruled and the case is remitted to the superior court for farther proceedings upon the verdict. MT. Grllls is out on bonds, and will be cited to appear for sentence in the superior court for Washington county at the February term.
 Mir. Grills is among the most widely known of the Italian residents, has taken much interest in public affairs. and was for years sought as counsellor by his coungrymen who had not be- come familiar with the Jaws and the customs of the United States. He was ciassed as a law abiding citizen, and the present case is the first serious one that has been charged against him. Many of his friends did not consider him guilty until thfs decision of tht 5upreme court was rendered.
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 There is local interest in the annual feport of the United States geoloqical aociety. on the surface water sapply along the Atlantic coast. In describing the general features of the area drained the best known descrip- tion of the Pawcatuck river, the divid knE line of Connecticut and Rhode Is- land. is given as follows:
 Pswcatuck river is formed near Wood River Junction. R. l., by the union of Wood and Charles rivers. Wood river rises in swampy land in Sterling, Conn., flows generally southeast to Mount Tom, R. l., where 1t is joined by Flat river. which rises in swamps at West Greenwich, R. l. Wood river then flows southiwsrd to it's junction with Charles river Tho Charles is formed by the overflow from Great Swamp and Wor- den's pond flows westward and re- ceives the drainage of several small swamps and ponds. The Pawcatuck riv- CT follows a winding course. in general westerly for about eight miles, then turns to the south and enters the ocean at Little NarraSansett bay, The slope of the river is in general small, hut several of the small power sits vn Wood river are undeveloped The natural storage on the drainage is good.
 Colonel TiIIinghast, commanding the First Artillery District, Rhode Island National Guard. has issued additional orders in regard to the annual inspec- tiOn. According to the ruling of the war department not more than two companies may be inspected on the same night, and therefore the date of inspection of Fifth company, West eriy, has been changed to January 20 The inspection will be in infantry drill. The date for the inspection of the mili- tary property of the state will be an- nounced later.
 William Collins, the wrestler, is in a critical condition at his home in Lib erty street, the result of knife wound inflicted by Samuel Royster in Pierce street Saturday night Ben Hunter. who was arrested about year ago for shooting at Joseph Sullivan, &C., companied by Royster went into the Salimeno saloon in Pierce street, where