Putnam patriot., 1924-09-19
OFFICER RYAN BACK ON REGULAR PATROL
Jury Finds Policeman Not Guilty of Transporting
 Liquor
Samuel Smith and Others Testify
 Against Ryan at Trial

AEaintt Ryan at rtat
 Officer John T. Ryan, of the Put nam police force resumed patrol duty Sunday night. following his aequittal by the superior court last Friday Of the charge of transporting illegally intoxicating liquor. Upon his arrest in July Officer Ryan applied for leave. which was granted by Mayor chapdelaine. When a jury Friday afternoon found him not guilty. the mayor granted Mir. Ryan's request for termination of the leave. and the patrolnan resumed a night beat Sun day.
 Ryan's arrest in July followed tes- timony given by Mrs. Samuel Smith and her two daughters in the court hearing following a raid on the City Hotel, conducted by Samuel Smith. the three women mentioned testified at that time that Officer Ryan had often been at the hotel with Smith and had transported beer from Pro videnee with him.
 Smith Principal Witness
 Mir. Smith was the first witness call ed by the state. He testified Ryan often visited his hotel, and one day during the summer of 1923 asked him why he did not sell good beer, as other dealers hereabouts did. Wit nesses said that he told the officer that he was afraid to take the risk that a trip to Providence would en- tail. It was then. Smith declared, that Ryan offered to accompany him on trips to Providence. since the pres ence of a Putnam policeman would minimize the chance of the car being stopped.
 Trips to Providence
 The hotel proprietor told of a trip to Providence on June 25, 1923, on which Ryan accompanied him and drove the machine on the return trip. The date mentioned, June 25. was shortly before the start of the Elks' fair and witness said that the object of the trip was to bring in some beer to sell during fair week. Continu- ing his testimony in answer to ques- tions from Prosecutor Howard C. Bradford. Smith said that the fol lowing day Ryan told him that they had not near enough liquor for the carnival period. Consequently an- other trip was made on the evening of the 27th, and more beer brought in. On the first occasion, Smith said, eighteen cases (twenty-four twelve ounce bottles to easel were brought to the hotel and taken into the rear part of the room formerly used as bar room. The unloading was done on South Main street. George F. Pat terson, clerk at the hotel and Oliver Christian, roomer, passing the cas- es from the car to himself and Ryan, standing in the doorway. The thirty six cases brought in on the second trip were unloaded in the rear of the building and brought in through rear door, with the assistance of Patterson, according to further tes- timony.
 Smith, who was in the liquor busi ness for twenty years, said that the beer was of pre-war quality, and his taste told him that it was six or seven percent alcohol.
 When asked what recompense he gave Ryan for accompanying him on trips to Providence. Smith stated that the Putnam policeman had been given five dollars for each trip. though he had asked for nothing. and that he was also given free drinks at the hotel whenever he wished.
 On cross-examm nation by Public Defender Charles l.. Torrey. Smith admitted that he is at present under arrest and out on bond of S2,000. ! He said he neither hoped for nor ex- 1 pected lenieney for his testimony in the case.
 Leopold Lachance and C. r. Pat terson. clerks at the hotel at the time, and Mir. Christian. q resident l of Lawrence, Mass, an official of the i American Federation of Textile Op- erativas. in which capacity he was | directing the strike then in progress | at the Manhasset company plant. cor robOrated the testimony of Smith m | regard to Ryan's connection with | bringing in liquor.
 Ryan Only Witness
 Officer Ryan was the only witness on the defense. He simply made x | complete denial of all allegations l brought against him in the testimony l of Smith and his employees. He stated that he had never held any | conversation with Smith in regard to l the sale of liquor. and had never rtnsported liquor with Smith.
 Following his testimony and argu ments by the lawyers, the jury re- tired. and an hour and ten minutes later brought back q verdict of not guilty. The decision given, Officer and Mrs. Ryan with their three pretty little children who had been in court through the day, left the room.