New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-08-20
A TEMPEST IN A TEAPOT.
COLONEL ROGERS is AOCUsER AND JUDGE
CHARGES PREFERRED AoAINs7
sTABLE.sUPERINTENDENT BACoN.

THIRTYTwo CHARGES PREFERRED AGAINST
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES BACON.
The Department Of Street Cleaning was centre q
attraction yesterday, aud crowded with people In
terested In the Of John S. Bacon the suspended
superintendent of the Departments stables. which was
heard by Acting Commissioner Rogers. Assistant Cor
poratlon Counsel Charles d. olendor appeared Is
legal adviser to the Acting Commissioner, and Charles
". Brooke counsel for Mr.. Bacon. Ihiry-two
charges have been made against the latter by Coonei
Rogers. Bacon asserted that most of them had been
heard and dismissed by Commissioner Coleman previous
to his departure for Europe and that Colonel Rogerss
purpose TO hurry through with the case and pro-
nounce judgment before the Commissioner could
return
At the outset yesterday Counsellor Brooke proposed
to call several witnesses, whose names he read. TO
prove that Colonel Rogers an improper person 70
hear the case, having pretudged It, and he offered 10
prove that Colonel Rogers had held out Inducements
to discharged employees to come and give testimony
against Bacon. After much spsrrng between Colonei
Rogers and Mr.. Brooke It decided that Mr. Bacon
should make his statement in to the thirty-two
charges and then Colonel Rogers would whether
he would hear the witnesses called TO impeach hn
impartlality 1t took Mr.. Bacon two hours
and half to read the charges ADD
make his answers The whole case shows
AN amusing disposition TO disagree on the part Of
both the pdries the controversy.
The frs. charge made that Bacon had suspended
an employe named Thomas Fnerty, whom Bacon
well knew TO be a favorite with the acting commits
sioner Mr. Bacon's that Finerty had
been suspended for neglect OF duty and for using
vile Language. The man had been before Commis-
siaoner Coleman he said, on similar charges, ard
had been warned that he would be discharged fol-
his mex. offence. Another charge was that Bacon
had unduly favored employe named Brady, and had
exempted him from sweeping the stable floor The
suspended superintendent replied to this tina. Commits
eloner Coleman had Informed him that Brady was war
veteran whom he had put to work for city Chamber
lain Croker, and that Mr. Coleman had especially In
structed Bacon 10 make life as easy for Brady ~
circumstances would allow, Mr.. Croker's account
further charge that Bacon had on one oc'
caslon been disrespectful to Colonel Rogers as the
stables and had gone far to that he guessed
that he could stand It meaning Rogerss control OK
the Department. two three weeks longer THAT Is,
until Commissioner Coleman's return. This charge Mr.
BACON denied. Charge No. specified that Bacon had
discouraged a man named Kinnad from taking placs
I'm .he stables take OF sick horses, telling him
tina. he would have to groom horses and sweep the
floor and that his life under Colonel Rogers would %
worse than a slaves. Rogers would not keep his
promises. In this charge the Acting Commissioner
speaks of Knnard as Just the for tho place
and makes the remarkable statement that even when
under the influence of liquor he capable OF taxing
good of sick horses and giving them the proper
medicine. In ator specification the Colonel charged
Bacon with the death of horse No 3d. because when
the horse was taken sick Kinnard was not there,
not having accepted the place on account OF Baconr
Misrepresentation
These were the most serious charges. perhaps. al
though in No. II Bacon is accused of reading aloud
In the presence Of the stabemen slanderous and
untruthful newspaper article which reflected upon
Colonel Rogers and other department officials. Mr.
Bacon was charged with being in an exultans
mood for several days after reading the article. fa-
vortsm to his "pets' going to Commissioner Cole
mans house for his address, intending TO cable 10
him that things going badly in the department. In
his absence disloyslty his superior officer failing
to letter from the Acting Commissioners
promptly: saying to another subordinate mat TX ma
hal found Rogers gentleman. ii was more than he
(Bacon had DONE threatening to resign railing "
show proper respect TO superintendent Greene and
Assistant Superintendent McGovern want of economy
In buying supplies and hiring horses and charges Of
| similar nature closed the arraignment
by one ne said in reply Mr.. Brookes question that
Colonel Rogers and superintendent Greene had pre-
Coleman had dismissed. Mr.. Baeons testi
being ended IT., the ot,e Aeng aas sy
| tho defendant and declared the case closed. Mr.
Brooke, after filing number OF exc piohs, movea 10
they frivolous I'm every respect were lnmater1a
and unmporant, and contained no reasonable cause
for removal or suspension; that all but five OF tho
! tbirtv-two charges had been considered by Commits
sionor Coleman and dismissed by him, aud that tho
IN Accordance With the Act Of the Legislature
Mr.. Brooke's motion was promptly oyerruled by
Colonel Rogers whereupon Mr. Brooke characterized
the proceedings a. eminently unfair and challenged
Mr. Rogers 10 pronounce his sentence Of removal az
once against Mr. BacoD But the Colonel reserved his
decision and said that he would announce II to-day.
no one doubts that Mr.. Bacon will be removed
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