The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-08-07
GAFFNEY'S BAD BREAK.
He ABUSES MAYOR MDONOUGH
FOR FINING Els WIFE.

11h ADOoEO MA 4 Wv - - ~ I'll
FOR FINING Els WIFE.
Tybee's Chief OF Police Loses his
Temper and Makes a DIs9raceful
Scene at the Hotel Tybee-As Re-
suit He is Out of a Job-Mayor Nc
Donough Shows Wonderful Self
control Under Aggravating Circum-
stauces-Gaffney to Be Prosecuted.
The report OF trouble between Mayor
McDonough and Chief of Police Gaffney at
Tybee night before last, which was pub
lished in yesterdays MORNING News as an
unconfrmed rumor, on account OF failure
90 get communication with the island, was
based on fact, although, as usual in such
cases, the affair was greatly exaggerated.
Gaffney did not commit battery upon
Mayor McDonough, but he assaulted him
with vile language and insulting epithets in
order to get him into a serious difficulty.
The mayor, however, managed to control
himself and declined to have an alteration
with the drunken officer, who, he said, was
intoxicated.
The trouble had its origin in the viola
ton Of the Sunday law in the city. La t
Wednesday Mayor McDonough fined Mrs.
Gaffney 5000 on a charge Of selling liquor
on Sunday. aud Gaffney became greatly
exercised over what he termed an insult to
his wife by Mayor McDonough in accepting
an informer's word in preference TO Mrs.
Gaffney's. He openly made threats that he
would get even with the mayor at an early
day.
LITTLE REIGN OF TERROR.
Night before last Gaffney drank little
too much liquor for his own good aud
started on the rampage. For some trivia
cause he arrested the cook of the Rancho
Club. Mr.. John Mclaughlin, a member Of
the organization needed the services of the
man and be hunted up Gaffney TO see il
he couldn't get the cook released.
The chief got angry, and riding over to
the Rancho proceeded to arrest the other
colored servant for no cause whatever. He
placed the point OF his pistol to his prisoners
head, and when Mr.. Mclaughlin remon-
strated with Gaffney about the unwarranted
arrest the officer turned and placed him
under arrest, compelling him to walk TO the
guard house with the muzzle Of a revolver
within six inches OF his head.
He searched Mr.. Mclaughlin, and after
taking his property, looked him up. Mr..
William Kehoe secured his release after he
had been confined about half an hour.
After this little transaction Gaffuey rode
over to the Atlantic Club and asked for an
interview with Mr.. O'Byrne. He told that
k6uLlGluun buhb luh1O L -hCDuhOuku itu III
suited his wife, aud he wanted satisfaction,
winding up by requesting Mr.. O'Byrne to
carry challenge for duel to the mayor.
IN FOR ROW.
Seeing that Gaffney WAS laboring under
the influence Of whisky, Mr. O'Byrne
talked kindly to him and tried to reason
him out of having any trouble with Mayor
MoDonough. The chief, however, was
bent on mischief and with an oath he
al al ufarfaI
bel Tybee, saying he would have personal
interview with the mayor.
Mayor MoDonouRh was standing in the
rotunda Of the hotel c0nversing with Mr..
Myers and other friends when a card was
handed to him. He looked at It. and see
ing the name Frank d. Gafney," excused
himself to his friends and stepped across to
where the chief was standing.
81 want to talk TO you," said Gaffney
II am at your service" responded
Mavor McDonough.
You insulted my wife, continued GaR-
ney, "and l want satisfaction
Mayor McDonough saw at glance
that Gaffney was under the influence
of liquor, and moved out on the
hotel piazza. Gaffney followed. and when
Mayor McDonough told him he was mis-
taken about his wife having been insalted
the chief said he was not, and challenged
the mayor to fight.
lhh MAY Oh DhCLINES To FIGHT.
Mayor McDonough cody informed him
that he did not fight with such characters.
and told him he had better leave the
premises. Gaffney then began cursing the
mayor in an outrageous manner calling
him coward, scoundrel and other names
Mayor McDonouGh maufully controlled his
feelings and walked down to the dancing
pavilion where his family was GAffney
followed, curslng in an outrageous manner,
and did not show the slightest respect for
the presence of the ladies' Finally, when
things went little too far,
Mayor McDonough arose aud walk
ing over to Getfney he said in tones
whose meaing could not be mistaken:
II have taken all the abuse / intend to
take, and l don't want another word"
At the same time Engineer MCCARTHY OF
the Savannah and Atlantic, who had ar
rived just at that moment stepped 10 to
Mayor McDonough's side, and throwing
his hand into his pocket in threatening
manner gave Gaffney to understand that
he would protect the mayor. This put an
end to the affair. The officer saw that he
had gone too far and he walked off with
out another word.
The news of Gaffney's outrageous con-
duct had preceded him to the police head
quarters and when he arrived there he
found Mayor Ulmer awaiting him He
promptly disarmed the chief and suspended
him from duty.
GAFFNEY DISMISSED.
Mayor Ulmer set hearing for s O'Clock
last night, but at that hour w. W. Osborne.
Esq, who had been employed to defend the
chief Of police, had not arrived, and a post
ponemen: was ordered until O'Clock. AT
that hour Mr.. Osborne was still absent and
Mayor Ulmer ordered the hearing to pro-
coed. The evidence was clearly against tho |
officer, and at its conclusion the mayor dis |
missed him from the force.
Gaffney made no effort to defend his |
actions other than a claim that be was not |
guilty of disorderly conduct. His bearing
during the hearing was that of person ap-
parently disinterested as to the result.
Mr.. Mclaughlin intends to prosecute
Ganney for threatening his life aud point
ing loaded pistol ct him.
GEORGIA'S TWO FIRST BALES.