St. Paul daily globe., 1893-02-17
He Will Be Asked Why He Did
Not Attend the First In
vestigating Meeting.
Underwriters and EX-Fire-
men Combine to Give Him
a Hard Tussle.
Ex-Congressman Snider May
Be Arrested for Contempt
Of Court.
More Missing Court Records
Dena Zuekeplin Enticed
Away From Home.

Last Tuesday night, at the first ses-
sion of the council committee on hre
department investigation, Chief A. ID.
Runge was absent. Why was he alb
sent? He and his friends say he was
ill. A physicians certificate setting
forth his illness was presented 10 the
committee to account for Runge's nom
appearance. AT the next session of the
committee, Or the first session attended
by Runge, he will be asked where he
was last Tuesday night: Runge's oppo-
nents say he will be covered with con-
fusion when that question is asked.
A committee of insurance underWrit-
ers has been taking a prominent part iii
stirring up the investigation OF the hre
department. This committee, headed
by c. B. Shaw, las been inquiring con-
cerning Runge's Wbereabout last
Tuesday evening, and claims to have
discovered that he was not too Ill to ap-
pear before the council committee.
Yesterday the assertion was made that
Chief Runge was down town and about
the streets on that evening when he
was supposed to be too Ill to leave his
house. The opponents OF Runge VIII
endeayor to bring out this fact at the
next session of the inVeStigat-
ing committee and make 1t ap-
pear against Runge. 1t will be
argued that he was afraid to face the
committee. Ii what the underwriters
claim be true, an affidavit signed by five
men will be presented to the committee
to support the statement that he could
have been, and should have been. pres
ent at the first meeting of the commit
tee. These five men claim that they
saw Runge down town in various places
that night while the council committee
was in session.
Four of the names which will be
signed to the affidavit are G. W. Fuller,
John Miller, W. WhitcOmb and l.. Cush.
They are expected to swear that they
saw Runge at o'clock Tuesday even
ing in Schiek's saloon, and that he was
healthy then and strong enough to go
before the investigating committee.
The opponents of Runge will urge
this point, if their plans do not mlscar-
ry, to support the theory that Runge is
afraid to meet the investigating commit
tee. 1t will be urge, anyhow, that he
kept away from the committee to
gain time for the preparation
OF this side of the case. If Runge was
day evening and was only ''sparring for
opening" as it were, he has since made
up this mind to face the music. Yes
terday he was in consultation with Aid.
Gray, chairman of the investigating
committee.
The underwriters who have taken up
the question of investigation are in
earnest. They will hold meeting to-
day to consult with regard to plan of
campaign. They will leave no stone
unturned to make the investigation
most thorough.
Outsiders Who are unprejudiced are
beginning so feel for the aldermen on
the investigating committee. The
committee will, ere this investigation
be finished, find itself entangled
in more law than 1t ever heard before.
F. 4. Davis is Runge's legal repre-
sentative. The fiTemen will have attor-
neys at the next session of the commit
tee in the persons of Judge A. I'll.
Young and Judge Daniel Fish. The
underwriters who are anxious for full
investigation are believed TO be proYid-
ing the attorneys.