Daily Republican., 1886-04-14
INVESTIGATING CHARGES.
AN OLD CUSTOM THAT WOULD BE
HONORED IN THE nREAcf
|The Case Of Foreman Dougherty
Before the Board OF Water
Commissioners.


@. w. Sharp, who had declined TO at
tend meeting which was TO have been
held last Saturday afternoon, WAS pre-
sent last night, and presented the fol-
lowing afidavlt which was read:
State Of Delaware, l.
New Castle county.
On this thirteenth day Of April, A.
o., 1885, before me, the subscriber, .
iustice Of the peace, personally ap-
peared George W. Sharp, who being
duly sworn according TO the law, doth
depose aud say that the charges pre-
ferred by him by letter through Water |
Commissioner James Carmichael
against John DouRherty. an enploye |
OF the Water Department, are true and
correct In every particular.
GEORGE w. SHARP.
(~~) Sworn and subsoribed to
L. 3. before me the day and year
| wv Aforesaid.
JOSEPH w. VANDEGRIFT, j. p.
Mr.. Sharp said that he was able TO
lsubstautiate all that he had said In that
letter, when Chief Engineer McIntire
said that the whole animus OF the
charge was in the fact that Sharp,
while an employe OF the department,
had some trouble with Dougherty.
Sharp admitted having had difh-
Guilty with Dougherty one time, when
he made reduction from his wages on
account of wet day. A controversy
Then susued bet ween Chief McIutire
land Mr.. Sharp, in reference TO his
being discharged from the department,
land the reasons for It, which was
finally stopped by the board. as being
irrelevant to the investigation.
President Porter said he was inclined
Ito believe the charges, as IL seemed to
him that the evidence was conclusive.
when Chief McIptire expressed the wish
that some one would prefer charges
IaRainst him, so that he would have an
-Iopportunity OF showing not only the
true in wardness Of this charge, but GER
tain other things that should be venti-
Hated. He asked Mr. Carmichael IL he
lha1:uot, on certain night in Robelen'i
Isaloon, said that 1t was not John
DouRherty that Sharp was CUNNING
latter.
Mr.. Carmichael denied having sal
Ianything OF the kind, when the chic
Ieugineer said, IT you have any chargei
asainst me why don't you make them?
Mr. Carmichael replied, II will"
Foreman Dougherty was then intro
Iduced and President Porter, addressing
him, said: "Well, John, you are &C
Icused here OF having some men OF you
Igang employed on the water works Il
ldig o trench and put in pipe for yol
-Iabout the FIRST Of this month"
Dougherty replied: eyes, sir, IT
Itrue. have been connected with tn
|, Water Department for sixteen years
y and 1t has always been the custom,
the chief engineer or superintendent
wanted men 70 do q little job, to tax
them. i never had instructions tha
the rule had been changed"
I'll President Porter said there was n
IL rule of the kind in existence; there va
II no doubt custom which had pe-miI
:, ted these things to be done, but thet
/" was no rule. Dougherty admitted tha
1t was only custom and Presidel
IpI Porter inquired whore the pipe cam
4 from which he had used. Doughert
i' replied that it had been around th
u place for three years, and in answer
question by Mr.. Carmichael, said thf
- only about ~ feet Of 1t belonged to I'll
u city but that he had used about
pounds OF lead, and water stop y
8. longing to the department. He eli
"A said that he had three men working 4
him part OF day. They were idle
1.-THE time ard had not been doing az,
NJ thing for week.
- Mr.. Carmichael wanted TO knew WI
gave him permission 10 take the ul
terial and use the men TO do the worl
thi Chief McIntire also asked . simil
~ Question, when Doe rgherty replied:
'o, "I did the work after got 2ermissl
e) from You"
Mr.. Carmichael added:
os Then the chief engineer y as co6L
zant Of your laying the drain"
llTV s,Uo., aaHaN hfa at0n IN n
il, the drain," replied Dougherty.
"That 10 all the charge the man maxi
Y0u acknowledge 70 using the men q
er, pipe Of the city?" asked Mr.. "
or michael.
W. "Yes; II had known that it v
W wrong, would not have done It. y
al, never get into such q muddle again
The Mr.. Febiger said 81 am very 81
ir this thing came up. have often hos
III of such things before, but nobody v
ost willing to back them. According
Dougherty's account, it has been
custom of certain heads of departme
when they want any thing done, to ts
r the men of the city. 1t is very |
Ah principle, and cannot continue Will
- am here. think, under the cirdu
stances of the custom, IL 10 best to |
that Mr.. Dougherty must return
"
and that the chief engineer be now
structed to tell everybody In tho
partment that IL such thing occ
n again, the party will be discharged
luiI once know Dougherty to be an b
est man in every way, from perso
Experience. make such Q motion.
The motion was passed, the amo'
TT due by Dougherty being ascertained
$6.65.
Mr.. Carmichael explained that
had no Ill feeling toward Doughel
and believed him to be an excel
man for the position, but as these 81
ges had been made and not disprp'
he thought 1t the duty Of the coml
sion to make the fullest investigatl
"When these charges were made
g Iohief engineer pronounced them
-. and said they ought 70 be fullF
vestigated:"
1T do not believe that the amour
-Ss' pipe and lead used was as stated
would like the men to testify who
the work, either under affidavit or
IN fore US. There has not been sutiC
III effort made to have full investiNai
The chief only asked Sharp to meet
on Saturday, after being instructe'
Investigate fully, but that is no inv
CATION"
The chief engineer here appeale
old Dougherty as to whether he Snd
otu men had not been summoned, and
zot answer Eyes" was given.
President Porter seconded Mr.,
cloth S..I,o. ,.'..a....ss:s - W -
! nv md a t,NT l-I -