The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-06-07
PROBING THE FIRE LADIES.
The Crosstire of Charges Being
Sifted.
The McMahon-Heany Controversy
Under Way.
Two Factions Turn Out and Make State
ments That Are In Direct Con-
b as to McMahon's
sobriety.

Jh6re was full LOBBY IN httonuhuce
at the session OF the fire commission
yesterday morning. Councilmen Mum
cor Nickel, Strohm, Pessell, Rhodes
and Campbell occupied reserved pews
and took deep and prayerful interest
in the proceedings.
Outside in the the anteroom about q
score OF fre laddies awaited their turn
to enter the gladiatorial arena and DO q
talking act before the commission. In
order to clear the way for the inquiry
several minor matters were first con-
sidered.
Chief Moriarty reported that he had
received 1894 from the benefit re-
Gently given for the fireman's fund.
A communication was received from
the council authorizing the board to
purchase six horses for the department..
A petition from Hugh Glssssll and
others, asking that the nuisance OF burn
ing crude petroleum at ths oil wells on
Second street be abated, was read and
filed.
The applications OF W. H. johnson
and II. f. Kennyer io. positions IL the
fire department we're filed.
1t was then decided to 20 into the &C.
cusations recently filed by members Of
the department which are disrupting
the service.
THE OPENING CHORUS.
The board first took up the charges Of
Jeffries and Mcmahon against Engineer
J. W. Heany, the charge being neglect
of duty and general characterization.
John Roeder, of engine No. 4. was the
first witness, and stated that the COM
pany could have done better fire duty,
as they were slow in getting out of the
house. 1t was the engineers or drivers
fault. There has not been harmony in
the house. Part Of the disturbance has
been caused by Mr.. Hesny and by call.
men. Collins has made some disturb.
ance and Mr.. Heany should have stopped
it. One morning about 8 O'Clock q gen.
tleman notified us OF fire at Pico and
Vernon streets: we could see the blaze,
but Heany said we would not 70 until
the alarm came in, and it was IA min
utes before the alarm sounded.
why is there not harmony in that
house. Mr.. Heany ?" asked Mr.. Kuhrts.
"We have trouble with Jeffries, whom
l went to one night and reprimanded for
whipping his horses. He said he would
do what he Id pleased that Mcmahon
had told him he had as much authority
in the house as I had" replied Heany.
j. y. Sloan OF engine No. next made
a statement that there never was any
trouble in the house until Hsany came
there. There was q great deal OF trouble,
disorder and drunkenness in the house
which should have been stopped. Col
lins and Hennessy were frequently
drunk. A great deal OF profanity was
used about the house. HeaDy used lam
guage 80 foul and vile to the men that
no man Of decency would repeat.
"What was the language?" asked
Heany.
SOME VERY BAD LANGUAGE.
"Well, he called Roeder, Jeffries and
Collins frequently ---," said Sloan.
"All I've got to say is that the wit
ness liee," remarked Heany.
John Roeder was recalled and said
that Heany had used profanity toward
him and on one occasion had neglected
to ring the bell while Roeder was at
dinner until "a taps had sounded.
Assistant Chief Mcmahon made
statement that Hesny was insu bordinats
and one night Heany had refused to let
the men 60 to fire. Whenever be gave
him an order Heany, he was informed,
rang up the chief to find out II his orders
were correct.
Chief Moriarty, who was present,
stated he did not recall any instance
where Heany had called him up.
Rceder was again called in and stated
Heany had given him orders not to help
Jeffries hitch up the colts, and had also
told others not to help him. Heany had
also taken out an extension bell up
stairs, by which we heard the alarm,
and said he didn't care q d-n whether
he stayed in the department for day or
year. Since the charges had been pre-
ferred he had found a nut off the wheel
of his cart and the cap had been re-
placed.
DRIVER JEFFRIEs ON THE JUMP.
Driver Jetfries stated that Heany had
never helped him hitch up his colts, and
one day he called man in from the street,
who was riding a bicycle. to help him.
Heany had lighted the fire in the engine
before the colts came out. Heany had
rung the bell while drunk, and had I'M
lOOb6u bno COlbn lIO4uoAtlys Ouo 0lkub
he was called down stairs "a times to put
the colts back in their stalls. He said
he would ring the bell as often as he
pleased, as he was running the house.
(The witness here produced a block
which he claimed had been used by
Heany in blocking the engine.)
Jerry Collins, q callman OF No. 4,
stated he had heard Heany tell Jeffries
il he wanted to whip his horses to take
them outside. Jeffries said he would
whip them whenever he id pleased.
Blocks had been put under the wheels
because the floor was rol ten.
The board took q recess until l 80
O'Clock, at which hour they resssembled
and took up the charges of E ngineer
Heany against Driver Jeffries. and the
latter admitted that he had come to the
engine house in his night clothes and
caused delay OF two minutes, also
that he had not proceeded to plug at
Main and Washington streets because
Eighteenth street was torn up on &C.
count of a sewer. On the charge of
using the waeh stand for improper pur-
poses, Heany called Jerry Collins as
witness, but the latter denied that he
had seen him do 30.
M'MAHoN ON THE CARPET.
The charges OF Hssny against Assist
ant Engineer Mcmahon were taken up
that he was ignorant of the duties OF an
officer, and had demoralzsd the men by
exhibiting letter and saying he was
vested with authority to report men
direct to the com missioners, and also
that ha had been frenuentlv drunk Nc