The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-05-30
MAI. BLANDFORD RESTORED
Three Of the Commissioners in Favor
Of Giving Him a Fair Chance.

j.
toxicated, But Agreed to Pledge
Himself Not to Touch Alooho Ollie
Liquors Again-Touching the Mat
ter of Commissioner Oath-Chair-
man Dale Says Maj. Blandford Has
Been the County Commissioners of
Chatham County.
The county commissioners restored Maj.
Blandford to his position yesterday as
county engineer by vote Of 3 to ,.
A special meeting was held last week,
and charges of dercliction of duty were
preferred against Mai Blandford by
Chairman Dale, who wanted to demand
his immediate resignation. 1t was
thought wiser by the other commissioners
to suspend the engineer until Monday, and
an order was passed requiring him to APP
pear on that day and show cause why his
resignation should not be demanded.
Yesterdays meeting was to consider
this matter. There were several wit
nesses, from some of whom Chairman
Dale quoted once or twice to sub
stantiate his charges. Among them
were Alderman NJ. W. Dixon, Mr..
w J. Lindsay and Alderman Wells. The
order was read, and the proceedings
began.
MAI. BLAYDFoRD's PLEA.
"Have YOU any answer to make to that
charger" asked Chairman Dale of Mai
Blandford,
Il will make this statement" was the
reply. las to being intoxicated l plead
guilty, but as to derellctiOn of duty
plead not guilty
Have you attended to the duties of the
4,
Chairman Dale's next question.
Il have, sir
Were you sick when the present board
was inaugurated?'
Il was, sir: l had fever
You were reported at that time to
have been intoxicated said Chairman
Dale.
mo, was not; except on one day dur
ing that time. -"
Mai Blandford was then questioned in
regard to the attempt of one of the
guards to shoot him some time ago He
stated that that was a personal matter;
the guard drew the gun and ne
had a right TO discharge the guard, but
found him good man and did not care
to get rid of him.
Il understand you were all drunk at
the time" put in Chairman Dale.
whether YOU were or not don't know
You say you attended to your duty dur
ing the past week.
Eyes, was the reply.
Have you any dynamite in camp"
Yes"
Didn't you order some more dynamite
last week."
Yes"
MAI. BLANDFoRD's STATEMENT.
Mai. Blandford stated, in answer to
Chairman Dalc's questions, that he sent
some men recently about four miles from
the city to put in "a trunk. He did not
meet them, however, as he did not think
under the circumstances, he could do
justice to the work. This ended Chair
man Dales questioning.
This matter is Of very serious import"
said DR.. Charlton. Mai. Blandford
pleads guilty to charges of intoxication. |
am opposed to the abuse of liquor, but
will say / consider Mai Blandford the
most efficient engineer the county has
ever had. ! don't think it possible for
any other man TO take up the work where
he has left off and carry it on as he has
done This condition of things must
cease. however, and l propose that we
give him one more chance and require
that he sign a pledge, and in case of in
toxication again that he be dismissed"
Commissioner Carson was of the same
opinion. Maj. Blandford, he said, has his
plans made, and he didn't think any man
could supply his place. Il believe in deal
ing with these matters firmly, but | think
we should give Maj Blandford another
chance
CHAIRMAN DALE's VIEWS.
Chairman Dale said it was not neces-
sary for him to express his views, as he
had already put himself on record in favor
of getting another man who was reliable.
81 so stated at the last meeting" said he
Il do not believe the county should
be used as reiOrmatocy. We have the
Kelley institute and the Hagey institute
now for that purpose Maj. Blahdford
has been drunk, and has been tried
in the balances and found want
ing. believe in putting another man in
his place
Il am opposed to drunkenness" said
DR.. Charlton, but in view of Mai Bland
ford's efficient work l think he should be
given one more chance. l move that if
Mai BlandfOrd sign a pledge to agree not
TO use alcoholic liquors in any shape he be
restored to his position, and if he violates
II that he be discharged"
CHAIRMAN DALE EXPLAINS.
Chairman Dale then produced q clip
ping from the MORNING News giving an
account of Mai BlandtOrd's suspension
ana the reasons for it.
~ had hoped, ;" he said, chat the pro-
ceedings would relieve me from a very
unpleasant task. a recent article in the
MORNING News calls for my explanation,
as blacker lie was never told. "
He then read the article commenting
upon it, and with but one slight exception
as to the time he preferred the
charges against Maj Blandford he ad-
mitted everything but one Paragraph.
The paragraph TO which Chairman Dale
took particular exception was as follows:
1t is said that Mai. Blandford and
Chairman Dale have been at odds for some
time from the fact that his professional
opinion has been accepted by some of the
commissioners in preference tothat of the
chairman"
''1'hat last statement is a lie a base
malicious lie" said Chairman Dale, ''isld
! don't care whether commissioner said
IL or not. | think Mai Blandford will
testify that our relations have always
been pleasant. Iwould like to hearwhat
he has to say"
MAJ. BLANDFORD's REPLY.
"You have found fault with my work
Our relations have not always been pleas
ant, was Maj Blandford's reply
Il am compelled now, to 90 over Mai
Blandford's past record, said Chairman
Dale. He is a legacy that we fell heir
TO. Maj. Blandford was drunk when we
went into Office and had to be taken to
hospital 10 be sobered up. One OF the
NHl.Hf FHfaua ID Ia.