St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-07-25
JUST EVERYDAY HAMS
THEY FORM The BASIS FOR lMPE .CH-
IHG RgNGE.
AFIREMAN SAW THE STEALING

But Did Not Report It-How the
Plumber Was Divided Mys-
terious Disappearance of an
discriminating Cop - Very Di-
rect Statements Made.
The spicy things in last nights SEES
sion of the Runge impeachment case
were hams--plam every day hams
which, according to the testimony, were
stolen at fire by the carload and carted
off on the fire department supply
wagons. The testimony OF the ''ham
witness" remained solid after the at
tack made upon it by the defense.
One captain has been found who
swore that he knew nothing of the
practice of stealing in the fire depart
ment, and the captain was none other
than the veteran commander Of Station
No. 8, who has been member of tine
department for eighteen years.
Last nights session was disturbed, as
has been nearly every evening SEES
sion, by one or two fire alarms, which
have called away several of the wit
nesSes.
c. II. Dumas, an eX-fireman who now
wears the gray uniform of a boulevard
policeman, was member of the fire
department until rly in 1892. Dumas
was at the NevinS fire, and saw one of
the men behind counter putting on a
stolen coat. Chief Runge came along
and told the man to change the coat for
q Lon In frNTI 1
on was too small.
Witness testified that he did not have
any idea why he was asked TO resign.
Attorney Davis read to him his teSti-
monp given before the investigation
committee, in which witness said
Runge had placed MIN down at another
engine house so as TO take his head oft.
George f. Wilson, another eX-iire-
fighter, was the next man to face the
august alderman. Wilson was at the
Castle shirt fire, and saw no one i'll the
building but tiremen. He saw
things taken from the showcases,
shelves and counters. The tiremeD
secreted the stolen things under their
coats and slip them through their belts.
Wilson was at the time 1T Station No.
II. After the North Star shoe fire wit
ness said that he purchased OF Fireman
Bradley pair of shoes and paid - for
them. He saw stolen goods at the en-
! also received black hat from Dennis
Corey,
witness testified in much detail to
numerous thefts. but conceded he did
not report them because it was none OF
| his business.
William Redmone, an Pmploye of the
street railway cOmanywho testified last
| week that he bought DR.. Fay's cap of
one OF the Iirmen, was recalled. His
testimony was somewhat sensational,
| and proved that the cap, which was an
| important article in the testimony, had
| been stolen from him or lost.
| X. w. Yorke, former captain, who
was reduced, testified that he was re-
duced because he had gone to an alder
man in Stetson's behalf, though really
he favored Runge.
| William Knopke. who owned butcher
shop on Hennepn avenue, was next
| sworn. His shop was in a building
which was damaged by fire, and the
| fremen were compelled to break into
the shop. From Knopke's statement,
his place suffered a regular raid, and
| hundreds of pounds of hams. lard, etc,
| were stolen. lie was not at the fire and
| aid not see the tiremen around there.
Attorney Davis figured up the thefts
| and announced to the witness that the
! tiremen must have taken $50 pounds all
! together.
Henry Schwartz. a merchants police
man, who was at the fire, SWore to the
| wholesale raid in wholesale terms. He
SEATED that he saw fireman after fireman
sneak out of the back door of the meat
marhet and go up the alley with either
a ham, Il side of bacon, or pail of lard
under their OvercOatS.
After Nicolay Junghs told of more
| thieveIy, the investigation was au-
| journed until 7:30 this evening.