The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-04-21
A RREIzY MEETINs


OrIbe Suspended Fireman ReInstAied-
a DssidedIy Interesting Time-"Ius-
Ilce, GentIemen, Jnstieer'
The Fire Department met at the City
Hall last evening for the purpose OF acting
IN the suspensions Of certain members by |
Jhiet Ecclea for drunkenness and neglect
II duty. There were present Messrs.
Jriswsll, Chairman, Wolvingtop, Robin
son, schullze, Hoffman, HalleF and Rob
Inson, and Chief EcCles and Assistant
Marshal Love.
To say that there was q lively time
would be putting it mildly, The scenic
parts were loud in color and ianCitul in
design, which Is true description Of the
meeting, II the public can grasp the simtIs.
At the opening oil the meeting motion
was made to exclude all persons but the
accused, But this attempt at star chamber
proceeding was successfully COmbated by
Squire Schultze and Mr.. WolyinRton:
When the committee had fairly settled
down, the charges against the hremen
were read, The list comprised the follow
ing: Paul Heller, drunkenness' John J.
Cooper, drunkenness and neglect OF duty;
F. A. Ebert, drunkenness; Jacob thinner,
James Barum and James Bell, neglect Of
duty. In Heller's case no defense was
made.
Cooper's case was called, and that gentle
man said he was not ready, as none oil his
witnesses had been summoned.
Mr.. schullze said he understood that the
Chief Of Police had been prevented from
summoning certain witnesses. Mr,sChultZe
further stated that he was informed that
Chief Eccles had ordered Capt. Bennett not
to summon witnesses for Cooper, Chief
ECCes denied having done any such thing.
"Hold on" exclaimed Squire sChullzs,
jumping up and making for the door 10
call Capt, Bennett, n allow no man to
dispute my word"
In the pause that snsued the ringing
tones OF the Squire could be heard piping
up Captain Bennett from the lower deck,
and few seconds afterwards the good.
looking head Of the police force pat In an
appearance. Captain Bennett said that
Chief ECCles had asked him to summon
three witnesses for him, but had not
asked him not to summons othersi and
that he had sent Lieutenant Sylvis TO
Chairman Oriswell to inquire into the
matter, and that Mr.. Criswell had In.
formed Mr.. sylvis that the city was not
party to the inquiry, but that the differ.
ence was between the Chief Marshal and
the men suspended.
When this little breeze had aubsided
Chief ECCles waa asked II be was ready 10
proceed with the investigation Of the
charges against Cooper. He replied that
he was about ready, only that the man
who preferred the charges was not pres
emit nor was there any likelihood that he
would be, 30 the case was passed for the
present,
Tho charges against thinner, Bsrum
and Bell v ere for neglect OF duty at the
fire Of the Ferguson flour mill, The les.
timony OF these men was TO the effect that
they stald at the fire until 1t was out, az
they had been ordered TO do by the Chief,
and that they left the ruins for home alter
10 o'clock Sunday morning.
Mr.. Muldoon stated that at hAlt.past
twelve o'clock the FIRE started up again,
and that he, with the assistance oil Others,
worked on the ruins trying to subdue the
flames. Chief ECCles was notified Of the
situation about 3 o'clock, and appearing
on tho scene, ordered Jack Finnegan, one
OF the extramen OF the Hook and Ladder,
10 waken up thinner, Barum and Bell.
Finnegan stated that he notified Barum
who was to call Bell up on his wAv 10 the
fire, and that he also summoned thinner,
1t was shown that these three men did
not put in an appearance. Barum in de.
Tense stated that he had sprained ankle
and when he got out Of bed he found no
could not walk, and went back 10 bed,
and as a consequences Bell was not notl.
fled at all. Gunner asserted that he was
not called, and that the response made to
Finnegan's call was made by some one In
the house who neglected 10 inform him.
The Chief stated that his orders to the
men were to stay until the fire was out,
and that when he got there at 8 O'Clock II
appeared 10 him that they had not obeyed
his orders, as the fire was burning right
briskly. The men, however, asserted that
the fire was datkened when they left, and
that they had no reason to believe that It
would break out again.
Cooper testified that when word was
sent to the United that the fire was burn
ing again he telephoned to the Atlantic
and that the answer came back that Chief
EcCles had left word that II any more men
were needed TO attend the FIRE 10 hire
them, as the tiremen were too much worn
out for further duty. Cooper asked who
was at the telephone, and the answer came
back that 1t was Engineer Taylor.
Ohei EcCles Indignantly denied having
given any such orders, and Engineer
Taylor being sent for appeared and sus.
tanned the statement Of Chief ECcles, and
added that he never made the statement
Cooper said he had, but that he did say,
II any more men were needed 10 tell the
owners Of the property to hire men 10
watch the ruins and keep the FIRE from
blazing up again.
MI Taylor was very emphatic in his
statements, and parted with the commit
tee by saying he WAS much obliged TO
them for interrupting his sleep, and with
their permission he would now retire as
he had to 20 on watch at o'clock.
All the evidence being in, the accused
were ordered to retire while their cases
were being considered.
Alter some discussion, motion to re.
instRte thinner, Bell and Barum was car.
ried.
Squire schultSe then read lecture 10
regard to suspensions In the department.
He said that hereafter 1t had better be
understood that no suspensions ought 10
be made except from personal observa.
ton, or on the affidavit OF the person max.
ing the charge. This was the only way 10
stop the Jealousy and contention that
exists between the members Of the depart.
ment,
Chief EcCles answered that the way The
men before the committee wore treated
was calculated 10 keep It up.
A motion was then made to reinstate