The morning times., 1895-12-27
C0IDI6E[D N THE DIRK
Foreman Walsh Of Engine 9 Dis
missed by Trial Beard.
STAR CHAMBER METHODS
Mr.. Walsh Plays the Good Samaritan
and IL Charged with Neglect of
Duty and Disoi,edience of Orders.
Accusation Brought by Assistant
Foreman Giles-AGist of Evidence.

Mr.. John A. Walsh, who has held the
position for fifteen years of foreman OF
No. 8 fire company, has been dismissed
from that place by order of the trial board.
This result has been brought about by
most extraordinary processing, contrary
10 all the rules in ordinary processes and
La ws, aud has afohsed the intense indig-
nation OF the members of the compa ny,
which Mr.. Walsh has directed for so long
a period. u 7t'
The proceedings Of the board were. OF
course, secret, and nothing was given out
but the mere stafement that the foreman
had been dismissed for neglect Of duty
and disohediencet of ORDERS.
Mr. Walsh. was befose the public on TWO
or three occasions this year, on each OF
which he was charged with. suadry Of
fenses by Privates Wentzle, Martin and
Mahany. IL was proved TO the satisfaction
OF the board that these men had catered
into a conspiracy against Mr.. Walsh. and
they were promptly dismissed. re-
hearing was had and the previous Judg-
ment was confirmed,
Again three other citizesn took up the
case against Mr. walsh, a compromise was
offered, but no agreement was reached,
and, SO far as the p1blic- was informed,
the matter rested there. 1t was the under
standing from the previous vindications
of Mr.. Walsh that all charges OF similar
character could not be sustained.
NO. 8 MEN INDIGNANT.
The foreman was, however, again pur-
sued by an inquiry which was instituted
by the assistant, Mr.. Giles, and it was on
the hearing in this case that the order
OF dismissal was made. As il was I'M
possible to get anything out of the board,
the best Information available was obtained
else where.
The witnesses before the board are averse
to talking on the subject, but there is an
uHdercurrent OF feeling at the Ninth engine.
precinct that more outraa aeous act has
never been perpetratfd by the board THAN
that in the case of Mr.. Walsh.
1t is almost certain that the c3se was
instituted by Assistant Foreman Giles, be-
cause one OF the papers in the case Is al
follows:
ITO the Chief of the Fire Department:
hereby charge Foreman John A. Walsh
of No. 8 engine company. with disobedi-
erce of orders and neglect of duty.
Specification: That. after being put
Off duty by Dr.. Cannon, he was seen in
conversation with very drunken man by
the name of Ed. Howe within a square or
Corcoran's saloon, fort y-fivc minutes after
he left No. 8 engine house."
This charge is signed by Mr.. Giles.
It will be noted in the first place that
Mr Walsh was found guilty of things not
charged in the specifications, for he was
''off duty" when he was seen talking to
the very drunken man, and the spevfiea-
tien does not allege even that he 'iisobe yed
any orders. or that hp neglected any duty.
Those who testified for the prosecution
were Assistant Foreman Giles, DIR. Can
non and Private msgo: The prosecution
Travelled cniside of H. e Indictment because
there was some testimony, the evident in
tention of which wasta shew that Mr.. Walsh
was drunk, because he was seen talking to
q very drunken man.
SUBSTANCE oF'THE EVIDENCE.
The substance OF all t6eSevidence is as
follows: On the night Of the Cd of De-
eember Mr.. walsh Sept at tIie.p1ecfnci No.
8 in order to mage~r6cffi for some visitors
at his house, AetaEngSIeft rhere at about
l O'Clock on wed5esf3ay rtsorning.
ON entering tEe t5igihe house he met
the watchmap. MsvN, TO- whom he com
pIasped about his Eheqfmatisn, having made
the same complaint hl several previous oc-
casions., Walsh Esent for the doctor
that morning as lie could rot get on the
trBek. TheAdoctqs not arriving Mr.. Walsh
was helped ON a. horse and went to look
for the doctor, who turned up 1t the engine
house at about / e'eleck and gave him Il
card or certificate te, 60 off duty.
Mr.. Walsh then Start ed home having first
had a talk with tyvS men. Aessrs. McDermott
and Lincoln. On the way home he saw
the man Howe referred to, lying by the
side OF the pavement NEAR and Ne W HaHp-
shire avenue, the latter street being Mr..
Waish's nearest VI Sshonp, as he lives at
Eighteenth and l. streets northwest. Mr..
Walsh endeavored TO help this man Howe
out of his dafienity and sit iwiIs while he
was so engaged -ti,st NE Giles saw him out
of the window of the station house. Nr.
Giles called Private Insgo to take note
OF that fact.
Howe, and then went home. This is the
basis OF the charge by. Giles according to
the specification Itself.
AiPANIoNS STAND BY HIM.
It is said that every man at tue ergine
house was on the stand and swore that
Mr.. Walsh was not drunk OF even drinking
when he came In on Wednesday morning
He proved by a witness who was. at lis
house on Tuesday night that he had not
taken q drink there. .
He proved by the watehman that he was
perfectly sober when he arrived at. The
engine house and by the two men, Nc
permott and Lincoln, that he was not
drunk when lie left the station-house. He
proved that he did not enter saloon and
that instead of forty-fiye minutes it was
scarcely TWENTY-FIVE minutes from the time
he left the station-house till he was seen
by Mr. Giles out of the window.
Mr. Insgo 70: the prosecution only knew
that Mr. Walsh WAS seen taising to the
drunken man DR.. Cannon did not swear
that Mr.. Walsh was drunk nor that he was
drinking. It is said that Mr.. Cites had
stated to DR.. Cannon that Mr. Walslf had
been drinking and that on this basis Dr.
Cannon had stated that Mr. Walsh rfli.rht
have been drinking on the morning when he
issued to him the certificate for off duty
Itis also stated that Mr.. Giles Withdrew the
statement that Mr.. Walsh had been driu king
1t Is. absolutely certain, however that all
OF the.men who saw Mr. Walsh from the
time he arrived on Wednesday morning until
he left testified that there was no truth in
the suspicion even that Mr. Walsh was
drunk or had been drinking. DR.. Cannon,
1t was learned, did not make n statement
that Walsh was drunk or drinking but
merely said that it might have been SO but
he had not noticed IT,.
The men are at a loss to know what was
the motive OF tue charge against the fore
man and they were very certain that they
could not be Sustained.
The fact when generally known VIII no
doubt cause great deal of comment on
account. of the long service of Mr. Walsh
the failure to esta bIish charges heretofore
against him, and the evidence on which he
was dismissed.
HIS STORY A FAKE.
Police Place No Credence In Kearney's