St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-07-27
IT'S RUNGE'S TURN Now
TIE FIRE CHEF GOES 70 Bat IN
The MHES TIGA7i1A
NOT so BLUE A TINGE

10 the Testimony Against the De-
partment-SeVera Of the Fire
Ladies' Give Evidence Which
G.es to ShGw That the Depart
ment May Be Happy Yet.
Gus Runge's side went to bat last
night and had an inning in the impeach-
uent case. The doughty chief showed
I'D well in his end of the game, and
scored several points - points which
may prove valuable when the day of
reckoning comes and the verdict of the
aldermen-iurors is returned Chief
Runge will not stand trial OH that sec
ton of the Indictment lolged
against him by the council charg-
ing him with implicitly in the
shortage in the funds of the Firemen's
Relief association. At the session Of
the council last night Attorney Davis
idressed the aldermen in behalf of his
client. Mr.. Runge. and asked that the
section referred to be stricken out, ana
that no testimony referring TO it in any
manner whatever be admitted. Mr..
Davis claimed in his argument in sup
port OF his motion that Mr.. Runge was
not the secretary Of the relief
association simply by virtue of
his position as chief of the
fire department, and consequently
could not be tried on a charge which
did not bear upon his conduct as chief.
He had been elected as secretary by the
vote of the members of the association
long before he was chief, and had been
reelected year by year by the vote of
the members. Mr. Davis said that Mr..
Runge was not the secretary of the assO-
clatiOn as an officer eX-OfficiO, but by n
regular election. AS the chief of the
fire department, he should not be tried
for things which do not come into his
regular department duties. 1t was like
trying an alderman Tor something he
might have done in his official capacity,
and then ringing i'll lot of things he
might have done by mistake in his
private life. The uties of the chief of
the fire department and the secretary of
the relief association were entirely dis
tinct. and one had nothing whatever to
do with the other
Nv hat has the council to do with the
relief ass0cIariOn%' asked Mr.. Davis.
The association is not a city body. 1t
IS separate organization, and has its
own governing board of directors. By
what authority does this council NEEDLE
with Mr.. Runge, secretary of the relief
association? | move. Mr.. President, that
10 fnf 81 I.tt 1HyIaI ofo
charges Mr. Runge with ma!feaSance in
suppressing all knowledge of the short
age in the tiremem's relief fund, in max
ing false reports 10 the association, be
stricken out, and that no testimony be
taken bearing upon it,"
Judge Fish. representing the prOSecu-
ton, answered Mr.. Davis. The attor-
ney for the prosecution argued that,
although the relief association might be
private institution, its members we're
all employees of the city, and were
entitled to the protection of the coun-
Gil. The council was investigating
the capa0ility of the chief, dhd every
particle of evidence bearing on
this point was admissible. Mr..
Fish said that the testimony under the
section of the indictment mentioned
would show that The chief connived at
Misrepresentation of the fdnds of the
association. and that this evidence was
thoroughly competent.
Mr.. FiSh Thought that a motion of this
KIND should he made by an alderman,
WhereuuOn Mr.. Davis asked how long it
had been since an attorney had been
deprived of his rights.
City Attorney Simpson explained that
the motion was in the nature Of a de
murrer, and that member of the cOur-
ell could make all appeal to the decision
oil the president.
President klichli granted the motion,
whereupOh Aid. Snyder promptly ap-
pealed from the decision of the presi-
dent in accordance willl-hiS privileges.
The alderman was of the same opinion
as Attorney Fish, and thought that any
testimony bearing upon the efficiency of
the chief was admissible under the
charges.
Aid. Bradish wanted to know If the
chief was not member eX-officIo of the
board of directors of the association.
Mr.. Davis replied that he was, but that
he was not charged with malfeasance as
such, but as the secretary. If he had
been charged as the member eX-officio
1t would have made some difference.
The vote of the council was then
taken, and the decision of the president
was sustained by majority of Y 10 9,
Aid. Adams, Loye, Harvey. BraZie, An
derson, Rand. Flanders, Mcclure, Nc
Allester, Schwartz ami Peterson voting
aye" and Ala. Long. lgenhutt, Sny-
der, Hayns. Jennings, Nordeen, Bradish.
Lackey, Rollins ana Gray voting may"
The vote was thought by some to be al
most test vote of the sentiment of the
aldermen on the whole matter.
Assistant Attorney Dunn announced
that the testimony under that charge
which had been stricken out was to
have constituted the closing OF the
prosecution, but that as the charge had
been stricken out the prosecution would
close.
Attorney Davis signified that the de-
Tense was all ready to proceed. and that
the testimony would be facilitated as
much as possible by the omission by the
attorneys of all arguments.
Chief Runge announced to the coun-
ell that he had obeyed their order, and