The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-01-22
BRIBERY CHARGED.
Suspension Of Engineer McCar-
thy, the I" Polar Bear"
The Kelly-Crimmins Junta again Waging
War Against the white Hats" Of the
Ere pepsrtment-Welch COomed.


members Of the San Francisco Fire Depart
ment-men who were injudicious enough to
voice sentiments contrary to the wishes of
the solid trio in the commission and against
other powers that be"
Christopher A. Buckley no longer rules
the department through the assistance Of
Sam Rainey, but the Kelly Crimmins bench
men do, or at least are trying very hard to
gain control.
This time the batteries are directed to-
ward the white hats worn by certain Dis
triet Engineers. One hat has been tempo
rarily shelved, and another is on the verge
of being taken from its right'ul wearer.
For the first time in nearly ten years AS
sistant Engineer John Mccarthy, styled the
Polar Bear" by reason of bis frOst-hued
hlrsute appendices, has discarded his uni
form Of blue and brass and stabbed his steed
and buggy, with its glazing ed coat, big
headlight and loud bell, In the Corporation
Yard.
OF course District Engineer Mccarthy did
not do ali this in addition to surrendering
his rights in District to Engineer Welch
of District of his own free will. What
caused him to retire from active fire duty
Yesterday was an order from Chief Scan
nell reading something like this: ~ on are
suspended until after an Investigation OF
charges to be preferred against YOU
WAIT TILL TOMORROW.
Chief Scannell was not in a talkative
mood last night when asked the cause OF
MCCarthy's suspension.
"Wait till Tomorrow" said he; I'm tell
you all about it then"
"Why was he suspended" was asked.
Don't know; can't say. was In
siructed to suspend hlm. l may be wrong
but that remains 10 be seem"
Has he been guilty Of neglect Of duty or
a violation of any OF the rules OF the de-
paTtmentY'
u can't state just yet. You will fnd out
all about it Tomorrow"
"WhO instructed ypu TO suspend Me-
Carthy? WAS it the Board OF Commits
soners?'
THAT can't state tonight Wait until
tomorrow, and then you will learn all
about il. No written charges have yet been
filed against Mccarthy, but | expect they
viii be ii ed tomorrow. Goodnight"
At the house of Engine Company 3 on
California street. the headquarters of the
assistant engineer of District 8, this men
were reticent and rather gloomy. Assistant
Welch was in charge, and gave his shout
ders a French shrug when asked the reason
Of the bear )" suspension. No one there
knew or dared volunteer an explanation
They were unanimous in saying. however,
that to their knowledge Mccarthy had COM
ntted no act 10 warrant his enforced re-
tirement.
A MYSTERY TO HIM.
The suspended engineer was found at his
home 1O1l LeaveuWurth street, surrounded
BY half a dozen sympathiZing friends.
Asked the reason OF his suspension, he said
il was a mystery to him. 81 have been
continuously connected with the Fire De-
partment for twenty-five years" said he,
aud this is the first time have ever been
suspended. No charge has ever been pre-
ferred agains: me, and / can't understand
why I've been suspended now
Mccarthy is SAID 10 be one CT the braYeSt
and most experienced men I'm the depart
ment. He ran with the ''old machine" in
early days. and in 1861 was appointed dray-
man, soon after the regular department was
organized. lie was promoted TO hydrant-
man, and nine years ago stepped up an
ufhrr ruug on the ladder and became Dis
trct Engineer. He succeeded the late
James Riley, who at that time was promoted
10 the rank Of Assistant chief.
CHEF sCAENELL's WITNESSES.
The cause Of McCarthy's suspension was
not learned until Commissioner Martin was
interTogated.
"Of course you can use my name" said
he. " hold public office aud 50 do all the
officers Of the department. The public Is
therefore entitled TO know oil about the
working Of the department. Commissioners
Brown, Parsons Schmlt and myself were
al the Office yesterday afternoon. when the
Chief called US into the back room. He
said he had witnesses 10 prove that Nc
CaIthy had accepted d bride while perform
ing Tire-warden duty.
Parsons said if such was the case there
was nothing to do but 10 suspend Mccarthy.
| asked the Chief If be had any witnesses
to prove the charge Of bribery. He said,
Yes. not only In this case, but in others as
we'll
mo motion was made OF vote taken.
That was not necessary, for 1t Is the Chiefs
duty 10 suspend any member OF the depart
ment for misconduct
why are they after Mccarthy? They
have been after him for long time. aDus-
ing him because he was Newman's friend.
tell you Mccarthy Is q competent man
and no one in the department can teach
him anything"
ANOTHER WHITE HAT SHAKY.
From other sources that are deemed re-
liable it was learned That District Engineer
Welch's white hat is about TO f III, His sus-
pension may be expected at any hour.
Why? Because he was one OF the Board of
FOremen who made uncUmplimc ntary allu-
sions to John DOugherty's management of
the Fire Department Charitable Fund.
Dougherty has frequently stated to inYesti-
gators, the Board OF Supervisors and the
late Grand Jury included, that as Treasurer
of the fund he has not improperly handled
the moneys that rightiully belong to sick
and disabled fremen. He stated quite re-
Gently that the $1,000 was intact and on one
occasion went go far as TO produce that sum
in glitterinZ gold. 1t is said, however that
Welch aud other members Of the Board OF
Foremen were injudiciOus enough to insnu-
ate that the ex-Charman of Buckley's
Democratic County Committee had Dor
rOwed or drew the money out Of bank for
the sole purpose of overwhelming inYesti-
gators.
DOUGHERTY THE MAN.
Two very high officials of the department
said last night that Dougherty had caused
Welch to be slated as one of the men to be
removed. One of them said: go and find
out how much money there Is left in the
Charitable Fund. If you find more than
$1,000, III eat your hat"
1t is said that If Mccarthy is removed his
place will be filled 10y one Ray, a politician
in Martin Kely's district.
Be all this as 1t may, there Is music in the
air, and more than one fre-fghter feels
rather shaky. That certain men are doomed
there can be no doubt. Certain 1t is also
that the wires working against them may be
traced to the Kelly. Crimmns combination.