Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-04-21
SOME BREEZY WORDS AND SAYINGS.

SOMt bRttLf WUKUS ANU ShfINos'
There seems to be some rottenness in
Denmark. Just where it is, the writer
would not undertake TO say but would
leave the public to conjecture for itself,
after A perusal of this article. As Is well
known there has of late been quite
stencil arising from the Fire Depart.
ment, owing to the alleged neglect oil
,luty and drunkenness on the part Oh
some members at the late large fires.
Chief hcles has presented the names OIL
these same persons to the committee,
aud at the meeting OF last week II de-
,ided to meet on the evening OF the 10Th
Tor the special purpose OF investigating
the charge against the accused.
Accordingly, last night reporter Tor
this paper put in an early appearance at
the City Hall, waiting for the committee
10 meet, and ready to dish up for the
public the doings OF its servants. The
members slowly dropped in; also the ac'
cused men and some OF their friends.
There was considerable private CONVEX
sation, and all seemed little uneasy.
A quorum at last being present,
Chairman Criswell asked the committee
to step up to the First Branch chamber.
Here was where the first peculiar thing
struck the reporter. At the foot OF the
stairs ne was stopped by the Chiei ana
informed that there was no use In MS
going up, as the committee would SIT
with closed doors.
Having suspicion that this would not
be so. The reporter pressed on, and
was made happy by hearing Squire
Schultze say, "Oh, let them all come
in"
The committee, or as ii il known In
the ordinance, fire department, came to
order with Chief Eccles, Assistant Chief
Love, Chairman Criswell and Messrs.
Robinson, Schultze, Haller, Wolvington
and Hoffman present.
As was partly expected, an effort was
made to draw public censure by making
the session "star chamber" one, but
the originators were voted down as ioi-
lows:
Mr.. Robinson moved that all persons,
except the department and the accused
parties, be excluded.
Mr.. Schultze-lf you want to merit
and receive public condemnation go
ahead and carry that through. We are
public servants and the public has
perfect right 10 know what we do.
Wolvington-I hope the motion Will
he withdrawn, | am sure there is
nothing to come before us 10 warrant
secrecy.
The vote was put. Eccles and Robin
son voted FAYE" very distinctly; Hal,
Ter, Schultze and Wolvington voted
no" 1t is thought Hoffman voted no,
also; how Love voted is not known;
Chairman Criswell did not vote or at
least was not heard.
The reporters being allowed to stay,
sharpened up their tools. looked happy
and business was proceeded with. The
first thing was reading OF the
list OF suspended men. Here
another singular thing occurred.
At the last meeting of the committee
when the charge was made the names
and charge were given to MIR. Robinson,
who was then acting as secretary anu
put down by him as follows: Paul Hell
Ter. extraman, Eighth ward, drunken
ness; John j. Cooper, foreman United,
drunkenness; Jacob thinner, extraman,
neglect OF duty; Joseph Bsrum, drunk;
L. A. Ebert, neglect Of duty, and
James Bell, drunk, and they so appear
ed in the press reports the next morn.
iny. Last night when the list was read
it was as follows: Heller, drunk, Coop
er, drunk and neglect of duty; thinner.
neglect of duty; Barurn, neglect; Elbert,
neglect; Bell, neglect.
1t being understood by all that Halter
and Ebert refused to make any defense
they were accordingly stricken OIL and
the action in suspending them APP
proved.
1t was then suggested that CoopeI's
case be proceeded with, but here MIR.
Cooper came forward and stated that
although he understood the committee
had ordered the witnesses for both
sides to be summoned, his witnesses
had not been summoned, and although
some of them were present, yet he was
not ready for trial until his principal
witnesses could be present.
Mr.. Schultze now cut loose and COM
mented very freely and sharply on
what he called this singular" proceed
ing. The chief at the last meeting was
ordered to call the names that should be
presented by the accused parties and
Cooper and thinner had handed IN lists.
Now, why had not those men been
summoned?
Eceles-I never got that list.
Schultze-Why, it was given in at the
last meeting Of the committee.
N Il ,al 4 /
should have ordered them summoned.
Schul,ze-What did you stop Tom
Bennett from summoning the parties
for?
Eccles-I didn't.
A look of blank Amusement came over
the 'Squire's face at thit, and suddenly
rising from his seat, he started for the
door at his best gait.
Criswell-Here, hold on, Squire.
Come back.
Schultzs No, sir! want You to I'M
derstand that l allow no man to dispute
my word.
He then disappeared in the corridor,
and soon appeared with Chief Bennett,
whom he proceeded TO question. Ii
was drawn forth that Eccles had given
him the names of three of his (Eccles')
witnesses to summon, and that he Ben
nett) had sent Lieutenant Sylvis to Mr..
Criswell for names, and the answer la I
been given that there no parties to sum-
mon.
Mr.. Criswell said he did not under.
stand that this was to be anything more
than an informal investigation, and he
had presumed that each party would
call their own witnesses and thus make
it more economical for the city. He
supposed there was no swearing to be
done.
Mr.. Schultzs Immediately proceeded to
disabuse the mind OF any one who
might so think. He proposed making
this as formal, strong and binding
as it possibly could be, and
if Cooper wanted his witnesses sworn
they should be. He laid down the law
in regard to the summoning OF witnesses
and said il the charges should prove
frivolous, then the city would foot the
bill; otherwise, Mr.. Cooper. There was
a regular circus about this time and il
became APPARENT TO every one that this
was TO be no fools play, but solid bust