The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-05-11
A ROW IN A CITY COUNCIL.
The Chairman Refused TO Excuse an
Alderman.

The Alderman Feared an Attempt
Would Be Made to Fill a Vacancy
and That His Presence Was Only
Desired in Order to Make a Quorum.
He Is Finally Granted Leave of
Absence.
Brunswick. Ga, May 1O.-An exciting
scene occurred in the council meeting last
night between Mayor Dunwody and
Alderman Crovatt, resulting in Mayor
Dunwody having Alderman CrOvatt ar
rested afterwards, and terminating in
Alderman Crovatt gaining the point he
was striving for by being excused from
council But an interesting sequel IS
likely TO develop
The events leading to this unusual pro
ceeding date back several weeks, when
Alderman Kennon resigned. To fill his
place Aldermen Crovatt, duBignon, Col
son and Joerger voted for W. f. Burbage,
Mayor Dunwody and Aldermen Downing,
Lane and Mason voting for d. D. Atkin-
son. Local sentiment was against Mr..
Burbage owing 10 numerous legal compli-
cations he is in against the city on account
of contracts he holds as president of the
Light and Water Company. Alderman
Joerger being out of the city last night,
Aldermen Crovatt, duBignon and Colson
remained away TO prevent their candidate
from being defeated.
CROvATT BROUGHT IN.
No quorum being present, Mayor Dun
woody requested Assistant Marshal Levi
son TO urge Alderman Crovatt to meet
with council to make a quorum TO pass
upon certain important matters involving
Brunswick's financial credit, embodyin
in his request to Alderman Crovatt the
statement that he would not be forced to
vote on aldermanic matters.
MIR Crovatt came down, and after the
opening of the council, made a motion
that the regular order of business be sus-
pended, and that the important matters
be attended to. The motion was voted
down.
Mr. Crovatt then asked to be excused.
The chairman refused to grant his re-
quest, as also did the council later by vote.
Mr.. Crovatt sat down and business was
proceeded with for awhile, when Mr.
Crovatt again requested to be excused
and was again refused and voted down.
Mr. Crovatt repeated his request again
and was refused Chairman Dunwody
each time stating that he had no authority
TO excuse him, and putting a motion each
time which was voted down. The regu-
lar order of business was still being pro-
ceeded with, and Mr. Crovatt noting that
no undue haste was being made, began TO
suspect that a vote would soon be taken
for alderman, and he decided to
break the quorum. He again arose
and stated that he was there under
q misapprehension and desired to leave.
He was refused permission. by Chair
man Dunwody and the council, when he
put threat previously made and re-
RoI lrr1a hall
Chairman Dunwody ordered Marshal
Levison to arrest MIR. Crovatt. MIR. Gro
watt stopped on the steps and Marshal
Levison repeated his orders to him. Mr..
Crovatt refused to yield and was urged
by City Attorney Whitfield to return to
the hall. Mr.. Crovatt returned and again
stated that he would not participate in
the business of the council and was again
refused an excuse. He started off again
and Chairman Dunwody ordered him
brought into council.
sCuFFLE.
A scufle ensued between Marshal
Levison and Mr. Croyatt, when Attol nep
Whitfield informed Marshal Levison that
Chairman Dunwody had no authority for
his action. Marshal Levison reported to
Chairman Dunwody Attorney Whitfield's
words, when Chairman Dunwody ordered
Mr.. Crovatt brought into council if he
him. Mr.. Crovatt returned to the door
and absolutely refused to accede to the
demand. Alderman Lane, seeing trouble
imminent, moved that Mr. Crovatt be ex-
cused, which was carried. Both sides
claim a victory, both having obtained
their point.
Today the meeting which adjourned
last night was held and a tie for alder
men resulted, but the names of Messrs.
Burbage and Atkinson were withdrawn.
Resolutions were passed to investigate
last nights actions and a committee was
appointed to place the blame on the right
shoulders To-day street rumors speak
of an Indignation meeting to be sheld and
also the impeaching of City Attorney
Whitfield and Assistant Levison for
their action last night. Attorney Whit
field says his advice to Mr.. Crovatt and
Marshal Levison was correct, and he
does not fear any effort at Impeachment.
Alderman Crovatt to-day wrote out his
resignation, but later decided not to re-
sign, and will hold his seat. The out
come of the aldermanic tie may result in
mass meetings of citizens to express
their choice