The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-06-19
HIS TROUBLE ENDED
Engineer Kearney's Corpse
Found in PassaiC River
This Morning.
DEspoNDENT OVER HIS DISMISSAL
The Bad Discipline at Belleville
Caused By the Old Board.

Last Thursday morning the new Street
and Water Commissioners dismissed from
their employment Chief Engineer William
Kearney of the Belleville Water WORKS.
This morning his dead body was found float
ing in the PasSaic River about twenty feet
above the Jersey City intake.l tIhe renee
tions cast upon his capabilities as an engineer
and ability to enforce discipline, accompany
ino his dismissal. caused him to become mo
rose and despondent. To terminate his grief
he committed suicide by drowning himself.
He left his home last night at about nine
O'Clock. His absence was discovered oy
nisbt watchman who had noticed that he
had been acting strangely since SATURDAY
last. He alarmed the night workmen at the
pumping station and thorough search Tor
him was at once instituted.
Hslf a dozen men secured the big works
but no trace of the missing engineer could
he found Other men made tour
of the reservoir but returned with
tbe information that nothing had
taen seen of him. Three coal passers had
looked for him amongst the trees and bushes
which line the river 'front.' but their report
was like that of their fellow workmen. All
,,icht lone the search was kept up and at
half past three o'clock this morning the
missing mans hat was found on the end OF
the coal discharging wharf.
THE BODY FLoATED TO THE SURFACE.
A net was prepared to drag the river ana
while the men were at work dragging for
the body of the old engineer, it foated to the
surface. It was taken in charge by the
1yorkmen and removed at once to his home.
which adjoins the big pumping station
Some Of tho men would not believe that
=. 80 rod
were not satisfied that such was the case un-
til the body had been thoroughly examined
No marks of violence were found.
The news of his suicide reached the Street
and Water Board Office at about half-past
nine clock this morning. Commissioner
HTcso Hooker who is Chairman Of the committee
having the pumping station Ill charge, was
one of the first men 10 hear it. lie ex-
pressed considerable regret and departed
without discussing the occurrence.
NO DISCIPLINE AT BELLEVILLE.
When the new Commissioners entered
unon their duties. their first work was to go
to BeIeyille to examine into its management.
The Commissioners arrived there shortly
after eight O'Clock In the morning and 1t was
said that they had found small army OF
unnecessary employees and laxlty OIL dis7
cipline which, they alleged, was attflputaple
to Chief Engineer kearney. -.-.=-
II was proposed to remove every Demo-
cratic employe at Bellevilie and High Ser
vice but this action was not taken OWING TO
strenuous objections raised by commission
ers Kellers and Cone, who declared that they
would take no part in the wholesale dis
mssal of men for partisan purposes.
The Commissioners, however, We're OF one
mind regarding the dismissal OF Engineer
Kearney They publicly declared their in
tenticn of disnlissing him, Notwithstanding
the fact that for thirty years he had been
connected with the pumping and for
quarter of q century Chief Engineer.
THE CHARGES DENIED.
On Wednesday, June IS, Mr. Kearney
and half dozen other. employees at the sta
tion. appeared at Mayor Wanser's office i'll
CITY Hall 10 deny the charges made against
them of having sfnecures and not being
able or efficient to perform the duties re-
oured of them.
Mayor Wanser listened to Engineer Kear-
ney patiently, but refused TO do anything in
his behalf Before Mr.. Kearney left the
Office, he informed the Mayor that if the
new commissioners would permit him he
would enforce every rule made for the gov
ernment of the station. He declared that
the old commissioners would not
regulate the purchase of supplies
He declared to the Mayor that he would
produce letters from prominent engineers
and citizens who would bear testimony to
his ability as an engineer, and also to his
moral character Mr. Kearney was prepar-
ing to fulfil this statement when the Street
and W Water Board met Thursday morning
and removed him from the Office he had
held SO long.
MUZzIED BY THE. OLD BOARD.
Mr.. Kearney was widoWer with tour
children. He was 20 years of
age. He was native of Canada,
and learned his trade of engineer
in the Eagle Foundry, which was at that
time operated by John D. Ward, brother OF
Mr.. Lebbeus B. Ward of this city. 1t will
r-,f+ Il Ila1,fc
of Jersey City that it was the father of Leb-
bens B. Ward who established Jersey City's
water system
Mr.. Lebbeus B. Ward. who is one of the
most efficient engineers IN this State, de-
sires to say that William Kearney was a
thoroughly competent engineer, and always
faithful in the discharge of his duties. He
was bitterly opposed to the engagement of
superfuous number of men for
assignment to duty at Bellevllle,
and was constantly In state OF revolt over
fhe lax discipline at the station. lie made
many objections to the old Street and Water
Commissioners but they compelled him to
keep quiet.
KNEW OF THE OLD BOARDS RAsCALITY.
At the time of the hearing of the charges
against the old Street and Water CoMnlis-
sioners, he was ready to expose the fraudu-
lent purchases of supplies, and willing to aid
any movement, even that of impeaching the
commissioners
Mr. Ward was intimately acquainted with
Mr. Kearnev and will vouch for these
statements Mr. Kearney was greatly dis
turbed by his removal and sought death to
end his career Since his discharge old
friends at the station say that they have
heard him declare that he would rather be
deaa than removed in disgrace from office.
He was also frequently found in q remote
corner of his home weeping hike child. 1t
Is believed by many of the men that his dis
Inissal unbalanced his mind.
JACK DOUGHBRTY CONVICTED.