St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-02-27
FOUND GUILTY or INSULT.
FINED AND MADE TO APOLOGIZE TO
CHIEF JACKSON
THE FINE is A MONTHS PAY.

Fire Board Heard the Evidence
Against Brandt and the ADJ
mission of the accused, Then
Found the Penalty in Execu-
tive Session-Contract Award
ed for Kerosene and Gasoline
A special meeting of the board Of fire
commissioners was held yesterday after
noon for the purpose of awarding the
contract for furnishing the department
with kerosene and gasoline for theen-
suing year.
This. however, was of little moment
compared with the real purpose of the
session. AS soon as the roll had been
called, communication was read from
Chief jackson, stating that he had suS-
pended George Brandt. first pipeman on
Chemical No. l, and asking that Brandt
be discharged. The reason for this rec
ommendation by the chief was that
Brandt had called him vile names and
used abusive language in one of the
engine houses not betitting meuber
of the department..
In explanation. Chief jackson said
Brandt had called up from No. 6 en-
CINE house on Wednesday last and said
his child was dead. and he would like
TO be excused. The chief sard he had
answered back telling Brandt to notify
the lieutenant. After leaving the
phone Brandt used some very insulting
and abusive language concerning the
chief, and went out. This. the Chief
said, was not the first time Brandt had
used vile language about him, and he
thought it was time the attention of the
board was called TO the matter.
Commissioner Martin was anxious to
hear from Brandt. and the suspended
fireman stepped up and gave his version
OF the affair. He admitted saying to
the men, when ne called up from No. 6
engine house. THAT is the kind of
- we have got at the head of this
department, who won't let a man off
when his child is DYING" but explained
that he was mad at the time and lost
his temper. What led up to this. he
said, was that on last Monday night he
had received word that his child was
very sick, and, as he was on duty. he
had called up the chief and asked to be
excused for an hour or two, but the
chief had refused him.
Brandt also worked in some insinua-
lions about the chiefs actions ae fire
some months ago and also told how he
had been treated in being transferred
for a day or SO to another house, but as
the statements were mere opinions he
was told to confine himself to the matter
under consideration.
Chief Jac kson said that he always had
the most friendly feelings toward
Brandt and had promoted him from
Waterman to pipeman. Brandt inter-
rupted the chief to say that it was ex-
Chief Black who had promoted him and
not jackson. Continuing Chief Jack
son said Brandt when lie asked for leave
of absence Monday night had not told
him his child was sick, and if he
had permission would have at once been
given him to go home. The chief wanted
to produce evidence that Brandt had
some two months ago called him vile
names, but this was objected to by Com
uliootpHCL naLlils WIZ oolu LILO s.
matter to be investigated was the
charges made for language used last
Wednesday. He had 10 special reason,
he said, for favoring Brandt more than
any other man in the department.. The
kind of language used by Brandt, he
said, was frequently used about the
engine houses in speaking of the CON-
missioners and others and should be
stopped.
A. NJ. Lawton, an interested spectator
at the meeting, put in good word for
Brandt. whom he said he had known for
many years. He was of the opinion that
it would be better for Brandt. Chief
Jackson and the department if the board
would consider the strain Brandt was
under at the time and not be too harsh.
Chief Jackson still pressed the qaes-
ton of introducing evidence TO show
that Brandt had used similar language
about him two months ago. Commits
sioner Stilwell did not care to hear any
such evidence, saying that it was all
one-sided and gave Brandt no chance.
One charge had been proven on Brandt's
own admission. and there was no use in
going into other charges. On motion of
Commissioner Clark, seconded by Com
missioner Martin, the board went into
executive session ana remained closeted
for half an hour. On returning to the
meeting room, President Stilwell told
Brandt that it had been decided to fine
him months pay. and that he would
also have to make public apology to
| Chief Jackson. Asked if he would
agree to this. Brandt said he would. and,
turning to Chief jackson, apologized
| for his conduct.
The friends OF Brandt, headed by
| Nels j. Ness, seemed to be greatly
| pleased by the action of the board, and.
in speaking of the result, said that
Brandt, under the circumstances, had
| been very lucky.
The board awarded the contract for
furnishing kerosene and gasoline to the
| department to the Chester Tank Line
| company at seven cents for kerosene
and seven and half cents for gasoline.