Morning journal and courier., 1880-06-30
Fire Commissioners.

l Dismissal of Merrick and Renfrew From the FOrce-Applications and Appoint l ments Made.
 1 The regular monthly meeting of the Board 1 of Fire Commissioners was held last even | ing. The full Board was in attendance. | The following applications were placed on
 file: F. J. Shanley, hoseman Edward
 Moore, driver; Thomas Malloy, driver;
 John Higgins, driver.
 | A communication was read from Joseph | Ely, who asked to be reimbursed to the amount of $10 for damages done his phae. ton by hose tender No. through collision on Asylum street. Leave to withdraw was
 given.
 A communication was read from the Chief Engineer upon the Merrick-Renfrew assault, Saturday, June 19. The Chief gave the par. ticulars and results of the affair, and recon mended that both Merrick and Renfrew be dismissed from the force, the dismissal to
 date from the time of their suspension, June 19.
 Commissioner Brown moved that the rec concentrations of the Chief be adopted and the men dismissed.
 Commissioners Mullen and Fuller were C1opOoOu 1O 1dNOI 1u1O bAO CdS0. Commissioner Brown withdrew his motion. It was decided to hear the respective sto- ries. Renfrew then told his story to the Board It did not vary much from the pub hshed accounts. He claimed Merrick had him down on the back, when he (Renfrew) grabbed the chisel to defend himself with The members of the Board did not care to ask him any questions and he retired.
 Merrick was next called in. He admitted that he was first to clutch or strike Renfrew,
 but was provoked to it. He had never had any trouble with him previous to this time | except few words the previous evening over some trivial matter.
 In answer to question from Commission CT Mullen, Merrick stated that he had been in the employ of the department for seven years and at No. 5's house. During that time he had never been reported to the Com missioners by the Chief. Merrick retired after answering several questions propound- ed by the different members of the Board, and had evidently made favorable impress sion with some.
 Commissioner Baldwin stated that he would like to get at the bottom facts of the case, and would like to hear the testimony of some disinterested witness, especially as there was quite wide difference in the two stories
 The Chief stated he had in his possession 8 statement made by 'sMat'' Walden, driver of engine 5, who was witness. The Chief read the statement, which corroborated Merrick's statement.
 Upon motion of Mr. Baldwin the recom- mendations of the Chief were taken up sepa- rately.
 The Chief read the recommendations a sec- ond time and Merriek's case was taken up
 Commissioner Mullen thought the Board ought to impose fine of ten days pav in Merrick's case, put him on probation and have the Chief give him reprimand
 Mir. Fuller was of the same opinion.
 MT. Brown thought the best interests of the discipline of the department would be ad- vanced if both men were dismissed He had never seen either man before and had no per sonal feeling in the matter.
 After a lengthy discussion Merrick's case was laid on the table and Renfrew's case was considered In the latter's case the recon mendation of the Chief was adopted and Ren frew was dismissed from the force without any discussion.
 Mr Mullen moved to fine Merrick ten days pay, put him on probation and have the Chief reprimand him. This motion was lost, and Merrick was dismissed from the department
 Upon recommendation of the Chief Engi- neer Elisha A. Read, permanent stoker of engine No. ?, was appointed engineer of en- zine No 5, vice Merrick dismissed, and Wal ter P. Hovey, of Hook and Ladder No 8, was appointed driver of that apparatus, vice Ken frew dismissed.
 The resignation of William H. Minty, lad derman on Hook and Ladder No. 1, was read and accepted.
 Substitutes Byron Smith and Peter Dargan were appointed members of Hook and Lad