The record-union., 1891-09-03
THAT BROKEN AIR PUMP.
The Judd-Daroux Rumpus Investiga-
ted by the Trustees.

Daroux is Exonerated by Unanimous
Vote of the Board-Testi-
Tnony of Engineers.
The squabble at the Water Works be-
tween Chief Engineer Judd and Third
Engineer Daroux was examined into last
evening by the Board of City Trustees.
1t was one-sided affair, as the Chief
Engineer offered no evidence and had
little to say himself, while on the other
hand Daroux was quite active in looking
after his interests and in producing wit
nesses.
OPENED WITH AN OBJECTION.
Judd had secured the services of Attor-
ney G. w. Baker, but Daroux looked
after his case himself When the inquisi-
ton opened Attorney Baker objected to
the whole board hearing the matter. He
said that under the provisions Of Section
II of Article 141 of the charter charges
Of this character should be brought be-
fore the Superintendent of the Water
Works alone, instead of the Board of
City Trustees.
Mr.. ConkIin, the Superintendent, said
that the matter had not been reported to
him until very recently, and he had not
had time TO make an investigation. He
preferred now that the other members of
the board would hear the matter with
him.
This course was decided upon, and the
investigation proceeded. The charges
made by Chief Engineer Judd to the Su-
perintendent were first read. They were
as follows:
Il. C0nklin, Superintendent Of the .Saera-
mento city Water Works-DEAR SIR: hereby
charge +. a. Daroux, Third Engineer. with
neglect of duty on the morning of August
22d. First, in not reporting to me that one Of
the Holly pump valves had given out; sec
ond, it is my opinion that the breaking OF the
arm on the Stevens air-pump was also ldue tol
neglect, by not being properly oiled, as the
shaft and bearings showed that they had run
dry. JOSEPH JUDD.
JUDD's STATEMENT.
Mr.. Judd was sworn and he reiterated
the statement made in his communica-
tiou to the Superintendent
DarouX then asked the Chief Engineer
a number of questions.
what is your business?" was the first
interrogatory.
Pm mechanic" was the reply.
Are you an engineer ?"
Attorney Baker objected to this ques-
ton. He said that Judd was not on trial
and Daroux had no right to follow such a
line of questioning.
DarOux said he would not insist upon
an answer. He then produced several
newspaper clippings, containing state
ments derogatory to himself, and alleged
to have been made by judd, and ex-
hibited them to Judd.
did you say all this to the newspaper
men 2" asked Daroux.
No, sir'
You didn't?"
mo"
''Well, now, you do say that it was due
to my carelessness that the arm of the
air-pump broke, do you not?''
mo; l said that was only my opinion"
We'll what, in your opinion, cOnsti-
tuted that neglect?' asked DarOuX.
"It showed neglect. 1t had not been
oiled"
"What had not been oiled ?''
The bearings Of the shaft
well, there are several shafts-which
one do you meanY'
1.-The main shaft of the walking beam. :"
Then you say that the cause of the
break was due to neglect in regard to OIL
ing the bearings of the shaft ?"
"Yes, but / don't say who did it. But
you were on watch when it broke"
You were on watch during that day,
until / o'clock, when Mr.. Renwick came
on duty?"
Yes"
WAS there anything the matter with
the air pump then?''
mo, it was all right"
Had it been oiled.'
II don't know, but think it had been"
DAROUX's CONFIDENCE.
Daroux next wanted to know if, lust
before the last election, Judd had not said
that if the same old crowd" was going
to be in the Water Works again he did
not care TO be there.
Attorney Baker objected to this on the
ground that it had nothing to do with the
present charges.
Daroux then made q speech. He said
that he knew he was going to be exoner-
ated OF the charges preferred against him.
He was that confident of the showing he
could make. He wanted everything to
come out thoug b, and would insist upon
going into the details.
We'll, >" said Attorney Baker, sarcastic
ally, probably we are not so well-in-
formed as to what the decision of this
board will be.''
Daroux said he was not informed
either, but he knew he was innocent
THE DEFENSE.
Mr.. Judd said he had no further evil
dence to offer, SO Daroux opened his side
of the case.
His first witness was +. NJ. Iuckett.
General Foreman at the railroad shops.
Mr. Luckett said he was familiar with
TIC AobtNtAiS pun anu w I'LL the IT-DUnlD.
In answer TO questions from DarOuX he
said he did not think that the break could
possibly have occurred through neglect
Of Oiling during an eight-hour watch. If
there had not been drop of oil put on
the bearings in eight hours he did not
think the arm would break. In his opin-
ion the arm began to break from the time
il was put i'll. 1t was an accident that
was liable to happen at any time even
with the best of care.
Stephen Uren, foreman of the black
smithing department at the shops, said
that he had examined the broken arm and
had found a flaw in it. These fractures
often began very small in size and in
creased with the constant vibrations of
the machinery.
Mr. Daroux next called George Wells.
arm when il was broken once before He
time.
NJ. 3. Horn, formerly engineer in the
Water Works, was the next witness. He
air-pump could have been broken through
neglect in oiling the bearings. There
were other causes that the break could
have been due to. In his opinion the
break was caused from the injection valve
being left too far open.
Ex-Urustee Wolf stated that while he
was superintendent of the Water Works
the arm of the air-pump had broken sew
eral times. The causes were various. In
his opinion the arm, in this instance did
not break through not being oiled
Thomas Taylor an engineer Of twenty
Hat IL In