Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-08-03
TaE INVESTIGATION
of the Eocles, Kenny Affair Dwindics
Down Into Simply Nothing.

Of the Eocles-henny hHaaf bWinuNs
Down Into Simply N o'hing.
Last evening was the time set for the
Committee on Fire Department to meet
and continue the! investigation Of the
charges preferred by Eccles, the Chief,
against Tom Kenny, the ex-Vigilant
no tier.
II will be remembered that at the last
meeting OF this committee the Eccles
side OF the fight between the head
OF the department and Kenny, on
Thursday evening". the 2lst ult, was
heard, and also Kenny was allowed to
testify, but the hour was so late that
the rest OF his witnesses were not heard
and the investigation was postponed
until last Friday evening. :,
Fortunately for Eccles, the Council
that evening passed an ordinance giving
the Chief complete and absolute controi
over all the men, allowing him 10 uiS'
charge or appoint at his own sweet Will
| This took the life and backbone at once
ont Of the investigation and it was read
ily seen that all that Kenny, his com
sel and others had promised should Dc
brought out derogatory to Eccies, would
fall fat. ,a,
The result was that the crowd last
evening at the CITY Building was q small
onp. About s o'clock the meeting was
| called to order by Chairman Cris~ell
| thers being present Messrs. Cracrait
Haller. Dunning. Wolvington and Rc6
inson of the committee, II. NJ. Russell
for the prosecutor, Capt. Dovener
the defense, the reporters anu small
lobby. ,
The chair stated that since the Las
meeting there had been Oh, nIts made
| OF a material nature, that obviated the
| present affair and that there was 40 ne
cessity OF going further into the case
The committee since the massage oil the
ordinance was dead so far as investlga
ting into the suspension or discharge
an empIoye of the Department was con
cerned and the investigation would o'
null and void, as far as any acton
might be taken. After making ate
ment similar to this he asked Tor opih
ions. ~,
Mr.. Dunning made this point: Th'
investigation was started before the or
dinance WAS adopted, and he wouiC
certainly favor giving Kenny hearln!
in order TO allow him 10 vindlcate him
!ef.
Mr.. Criswell-My suggestions were
suggested and are concurred IN Dy DOH
parties in the case. No practical result
yould follow our action that might Ut
founded on our finding as We are not II
a position to act.
Mr.. Dunning-lf the defendant drop'
it, that settles 1t.
Mr.. Dovener stated that it was aP
parently useless to further continue the
investigation. Section OF the ordl
nance under which the committee ha'
been, Eorking was nov repealed an'
amepasd and Council could do nothing
ON any report of the trial the committee
might hand in under that section. Th'
case was analogous to the abollshlng o
the old county courts-all business Wa:
thrown into the Circuit Court. lie nm
ished by saying, "even the new ordi
nance can settle this matter" A pom
he made was that to continue this inves
tiyation would be merely to consume
time. ...
Mr.. Russell made similar remarks.
Mr.. Robinson, who all along had beer
thirstiny for the opinion Of the attor
news, now said, ~ move that the inves
tigation he discontinued"
Mr.. Cracraft said that the committed
being dead by reason OF the passage o
the ordinance, he would second the mo
ton of the gentleman from kenny''
ward.
The motion was put and carried. MIR
Kenny handed his resignation to Eccles
who appeared greatly relieved at the
turn affairs had taken. The crowd quiet
ly dispersed, among it John Cooper, who
was disposed to linger and see II MIR
Criswell would present to the commit
tee the charges against the Chief that hi
had submitted.
This was not done and the result Ii
that divers sensational things are prom
ised and fun il yet ahead.
Thus ended the investigation (O