National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1876-04-26
FIRE-ALARM TELEGRAM.
Removal Of Lewis P. seibolG-Heariug Eetore
the Fiye Cam m isgioners

ing hearing to Mr., Louis p. Seibold late opera
tor in the fre-alarm telegraph shiee, who charges
certain persons with conspirtng to have him dis
missed, and asks to be reJnstated. There were
present Commissioners Morgan, (presiient)
Thomas, (acting secretory,) TAFT, Collins, Hume
and Bacon. Also, Superintendent Miles, Of the
fre-alarm telegraph: Chief Cronin, Assistant En-
gineer Drew, Mr. Sefbold, with his attorney, Mr..
7. =. Clos, Mr. Rogers and others
The proeeediIgswere opened with the rcadingof
sElBoLD's LETTER
10 the Fire Commissioners, date February IT,
ls7e, ASKING Reconsideration of the action by
VIVA w zen dismissed on the ehaage n- o.
ferred by H. r. Miles and Chief Cronin, ana al
leging that he was the victim Of q foul conspiracy
that II had been referred to the District Commis
sioners as the board had do authority In the mat
sioners with instructions TO make such investlga-
ton in the matter as was deemed advisable.
The communication from Superintendent Miles
to the District Commissioners, dated December
% 1875, read, stating that certain irregulari
ties had occurred in the working Of the FIRE tele-
graph, and that he was led to believe that the IT.
regularties were caused by Schools tampering
with the automatic machine. 1t further stated
that Seibold had
CONTRACTED A GREAT MANY DEBTS,
and that he (AIiles) was informed that he was ad-
This Communication bore an Endorsement by
Chief Cronin and Assistant Drew in reference 10
recommendation Of Commissioner Morgan, presi-
dent Of the board, that Seibold be dismissed.
the Of the and It
was finally determined to hear Mr. Seibolds
statement under oath, and whatever witnesses he
chose to produce in relation to the matter. Mr..
Miles objected to being put on oath at rst stating
that he was not on trial, but afterwards withdrew
his objection. The examination was conducted
by MI. Gloss in behalf of Mr.. Seibold, and the
Mr.. Seibold was sworn, and stated that on De-
phnr2 hn yal In nfh il mi
sal from Mr.. Miles. Asked him (Mr. Miles) If he
knew or could think Of any cause or reason for his
not for the life Of him tell
WHY HE WAS REMOVED.
On New Years day witness asked Mr.. Miles
again If he could tell the cause of his removal and
witness asked Chief Cronin If he could tell the
reason, and the latter said that he knew nothing
about it until he saw in the papers that he Isl
had been removed. Mr. Seib0ld stated that the
first battery put into the new Office by the con-
tractors was o failure, on account Of imperfect
workings of the zines. He explained at length
the difficulty, and the procuring Of new zines from
Watts & Co., after which they got better results.
Mr.. Miles never accused witness of tampering
with the machinery. but, on the contrary, did all
| alarms
Witness explained briefly the manner of trans
hitting alarms. Witness Office hours werc from
sa. m. to 1 P. IN. The operators had control OF
had the ke eys ' WEAK batteries s would produce
irregularities in the transmission of alarms. or
| the twenty-five alarms which were transmitted
during witness hours Of duty by the new appa-
ratus two three were wrong; Of Richards nine
teen alarms one or two were wrong.
THE ALARM WAS STRUCK,
but struck wrong There were thousand ways
to account for the rregularity. Never moved the
switches back and forth to interfere with alarms;
had too much at stake to interfere with them,
and had no cause or reason for such a thing
but Mr.. Richards, Mr.. Miles brOther-in-law,
| green hand, whom witness had seen using brush
Witness explained how irregularities could be
caused by.using the brush about the repeater.
| Witness wis employed in the office against Mr.;
Miles will; hrst employed in 1854 or 1855 and
remained until 1859: went back in 1873 and staid
until his removal Had had one two little spats
| with Mr.. Miles about doing extra duty; knew no
| reason why Mr.. Miles should seek his discharge,
except il that he had in his possession certain
letters which Miles received from Gamewell
| & Go.
Mr.. Morgan. How did you get possession of the
| letters?
thought them mighty interesting reading. d.
Mr.. Hume. We're they written about your
| Witness. No
MIR Hume Private, suppose?
Witness. Well, they were addressed to Mr..
Miles; witness got them out of the desk in the
ness had the letters, and wished to have him re-
moved; thought that the letters showed positively
GameWei contract. witness did not OF h the
letters with him; had further charges to prefer
against Mr.. Miles, but preferred to do It at an
MIR Seiboid was briefly examined by Mr.. Miles
the only additional fact gained being that wit;
the letters until after his dismissal.
MR.. MILES WAS THEN SWORN,
and read lengthy statement, Of which the fol-
lowing is the substance Witness stated in a ver-
bal Communication with the District Commission
ers that he believed Seibold had tempered with
the repeater, but had no positive knowledge; so
the Commissioners thoroughly understood the
occurring before Seibold dismissal and the causes
stated at length, and the reasons witness had
for believing that Seibold wastampering with the
repeater. He became convinced that Seibold was
tampering with the machinery for the purpose Of
injuring the contractors or extorting money from
them. About this time witness was informed that
one Of Seibold's friends had attempted to black
mail the contractors by writing threatening let
ter, demanding money. The demand, as witness
was informed, was made In writing, and contained
threat. Witness informant entertained
no doubt Of Schools completely in the matter.
| a copy Of letter which he had received from
| Seibold, stating that he ~ had mot received a
very handsome sum of money, and that he needed
| Witness continued that Slower (Gamewells
| agent) had employed Seibold and handsomely
| paid him for his services. Witness theory was,
and is that Seibold tempered with the machinery
/ to get money from the contractors. Before
requesting the District Commissioners to remove
Seibold, witness called upon the president OF the
board for advice and gave him the whole statement
BY his advice, and at his request, witness went
II
picious circumstances. At the request of the Dis
trict Commissioners the statement was reduced to
writing. Witness was asked by the Commits
Sioners to speak Of Schools moral character and
| stated that he did not know that he "a drank;
| was creditably informed that he gamblei, and he
Commissioners wanted the matter Of debt parti.
cularly inserted in the charge, that alone
was sufficient for Schools removal. Janu-
| airy J. witness wrote n letter TO p. T. Game
| we'll and referred to Seibold's dismissal. Mr.
Gamewell replied, eongratulating witness upon
r r letter. Signed BY Gloss STATING
| that he (Closs) held certain letters from Game
well Go. to H. R. Miles, dated March II and
| Ofthe writer 10 use them before the committee Of
Congress, and asking permission to do so. Mr..
Gamewell, in HIS letter. said: For cheek and con-
summate impudence that fellow beats the DEVIL"
and that he (G.) had concluded not to notice the
letters. Witness wrote to Gamewell Co. for
copies Of any letters sent to him of the dates men
toned, but they &c. & CO.. replied that they had
| no copies Of letters Of those dates. February 10
appeared in newspapers referring to GameweIl
| contracts, and stating that q certain ex-empoyee
in the telegraph office had letters in his posses
| sion which would show that money had been paid
to certain officials in order ITO get the contract.
Slower had no doubt that the figures were fur
nished by Seibold. Witness did not know
or care whether Gamewell & Co. sent him let
tiers Of the dates mentioned; did know that he
never received letters from Gamewell &Co., or
official influence. Since Seiboid's removal there
had been no trouble with the repeater or battery,
4 anu no disappointed creUlJOIs came cituOTlnR
about the office. Witness thought that SeIbolds
| attempt TO blackmail Gamewell Co. was suf-
fcent cause for his removal. Seibold stated i'm
| mediately after his removal that unless he was
reinstated he would make such an expose that
Congress would never make an appropriation to
reimburse the District for the expense Of erecting
the telegraph. Seibold, when on the police force,
had been reduced from the rank Of sergeant to
that of private. There was no unkind feeling on
| witness part before the dismissal, and he had
thus far persistently declined TO make known the
| real causes of Schools removal.
| MIR. Miles. under cross-examination by MIR.
| Gloss, explained again the manner in which the
irregularities in the machinery had occurred. Had
| no direct evidence that MIR. Seibod had ever tam
| pered with the instrument. Would not disclose
the name Of his informant regarding
| THE BLAcKNAIL LETTER
Seibold was employed by Mr.. Gamewell to work,
| there being, as witness believed, a tacit agree
ment between the parties. Believed that Sci
bold was paid SIS for the three four weeks that
| he worked for Mr.. Gamewell. Remembered having
| Sl00 collected for Gamewell & Co., and wrote
| them, saying that he would give the money to
Seibold If they re-. Coz said so: Was not act
| ing as Gamewelrs agent. Seibold wanted more
| money, and witness wrote to Gamewell & Co. for