St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-07-28
POPULAR OWL CLUB.
1T WAS A RENDEZVOUS FOR MEMBERS
OF THE DEPARTMENT.
TESTIMONY REGARDING HAMS.

Alderman Lackey Goes For an
Evening Paper - More Evil
dence in REPUTATION Of the
Charges OF Thievery-The ses-
sion Warm-General News.
Interest in the Runge impeachment
case before the council is increasing.
Last evening the investigation into the
alleged incOmpetency of the chief OF the
fire department was resumed. and be-
fore the regular order Of business was
proceeded with a mild sensation was
sprung by Aid. Lackey, who read an eX-
tract from an evening paper in which his
hostility to Chief Runge was ascribed
TO personal motives, and not for the
betterment of the department. The
article in question charged Aid. Lackev
with being a candidate or aspirant
for the position of chief or assistant
chief, and in this connection he said
that his motives had been grossly mis-
represented and impugned, and that he
would not accept position under any
circumstances, his only motive being to
weed utdIShonesty and rascality.
Il have never" said he, "Oeen an as
pirant for the position of chief or as
siStant chief, and would not accept the
place under any circumstances, my
motives in this investigation being
purely disinterested, and l think it out
rageous to be thus misrepresented."
Among the Witnesses examined were
Capt. A. +. kraKe, of Hose Company
No. 3. Mr.. Davis asked:
WAS it a common thing for the men
to compare stealingS after tire?'
Witness-No sir; 1 never heard of It.
L! Oh crOSs-examinatIOn witness eX-
planned that he is cousin Of
Cher Runge. and he was
then put under a heavy cTOSs-fire by
City Attorney Dunn, as to his presence
at several fires and the actions OF the
fremen. The witness could not recall
Instances where certain firemen had
taken goods. his memory being de
tective in regard 10 incidents testified
TO by witnesses for the prosecution.
Chief Runge had called the attention of
witness to the loss of two reVOlYerS at
fire, and had asked him to try and re-
cover them. He had also examined the
supply wagons after fires, and had seen
10 evidence of robbery. Witness had
not seen any drinking at headquarters.
By Mr.. Dunn-WaS the Owl club Sit
uated on city property?
Attorney Davis object. although 1t
might be we'll enough TO know what
kind of birds, and foxes. too, for that
matter, there were, for, according TO the
Scriptures. they all have their holes, and
we ought to chase them down.
The objection was Overruied, and wit
ness testified that the Owl club was not
on city property, and that he had at
tended some of the sessions.
Witness had been made captain by
Cher Stetson.
At this point the "Owi Club was
again taken up on the point raised by
Mr.. Davis. calling upon the witness to
define the character of the club.
The dispute WdXed warm over the adj
instability of the testimony, and, upon
the yeas and nays being taken, it was
decided not to admit the evidence.
Aid. Rand here said ne wanted it put
on record that the chairman sat as a
high court to assist the prosecution.
AID. Snyder wanted it put Oh record
that an outside attorney, in no way con-
nected with the city, had been called
upon TO assist the prosecution.
Aid. Randi move that a minute be
made to the feet that after the prose-
cutlon had been partially completed
man named Dan Fish was called in to
help the case out.
1t looked here as though a lively
scrap was ABOUT to take place on the
mere matter of correcting the records.
and for 4 minute or two ali the mem
bers of the high court of impeachment
eudeavOred TO talk ut once. Peace was
finally restored by the adoption OF
motion to lay the record business on
the table.
Rule l43. from the regulations of the
department. requiring that record be
made of all the runs. was then read.
Samuel Nelder, a pipeman III the de-
partment, was then called. Witness
had never heard OF any talk about steal
ing among the members; he knew
/ Hugh Fox and Ed Feelin; the latter had
never SOLD HIM sealskin cap; there
was no foundation for this statement.
Edward Sullivan, attached to Chemi-
/ cal No. |. was then sworn. Witness
| had been at the Pillsbury bran house
! fire. He took an oil can from the house
the cOmpany's can had been frozen
| up, and they borrowed some Oil from
! one of the mill hands.
Witness had never said he had 10.
| Gated valuable furS in the Plymouth
! clothing house so he could find them in
case of fire. He had never heard the
tiTemen talk about stealing. Witness
! had never worn cap stolen from the
| Manhattan store.
Witness had never seen any shoes
taken from the North Star Shoe factory.
| He had been at the meat market fire.
! He had charge of the supply wagon.
| He and Paddy Miles had entered the
meat market. Tney went in
to cover up the goods and
/ there wasn't ham in the
I lot. only some sawdust hams. They
| saw some bacon and the hams were
| covered with canvas and filled with
| sawdust. He did not see any one leave
! the place with hams or other meat.
| The crOSS-eXamlnatiOn of witness bv
| Judge Fish failed to shake his teSti-
money, although ne was pushed sharp
| ly on the several alleged rubberies teSti-
fed to by the witnesses for the prose-
| cution.
Witness had been ordered to enter
| the butcher shop by the chief.
BY Aid. Haynes-HOw did you know
/ the hams were filled with sawdust?
WiJness-Ehe hook happened to stick
/ in it when l took it down and the saw
! dust ran out.
Aid. Haynes-Was it the first ham
/ you tackled?
Attorney Davis-It was not the first
ham he ever tackled. Laughter
! He then testified that no meats had
| been taken away in the supply wagons.
Adjourned until Monday evening, at
| 30 O'Clock.
An = DrDEr nrD aru