The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-06-01
CHIMNEY CONTRACTOR TO GO
THE CITY COUNCIL HEARS CHARGES
AGAINST +. ,. NTENOY.

Used His ONCE in a Manner i'm which
He Ought Not to Have Used It-A
Charge of Trying 10 BIackmnii
brought Against Him-His Case Re
ferrcd To the city Attorney
7. J. McEvoy. chimney contractor for
the western district, will doubtless be
dismissed from his Office al the next
meeting Of the city council next Wednes-
day might
Very serious charges have been brought
against McEvoy. They were heard by the
committee Of the whole OF council yes
terday morning and McEvoy would have
been bounced at once but for the fact
that his Office is an elective one and the
aldermen were in doubt as to the course
OF procedure. The matter referred TO
city attorney. T.. Adams. for his opinion,
with a request that he report at the next
meeting of council.
a motion to discharge AlcEvoy AZ once
was made. bat was Withdrawn wher it
was found that being an elective officer. IL
would probably be necessary TO give aim
trial Complaints against McEvoy have
been accommodating in the office Of the
clerk OF council for some time.
BY far the most serious complaint was
In his capacity as chimney contractor
McEvoy has done considerable work FOR
Mr.. Morrison. who owns a number Of
houses in the western section of the city.
McEvoy presented a bill for Sl215, which
Mr.. Morrison disputed. The chimney con-
tractor then entered suit i'm Justice Pat
tercon's court ard the case was set fJr
the June term May % AIcEvoy addressed
Let N Ia
fered that II the latter would settle the
bill and pay all costs he would make a
reduction Of 50 in the bill lie urged MI
Morrison to accept this offer. and ccl-
cludcd the letter with the following re-
markable statement: THE settlement
will give me a chance TO send to the Tar
in Association Of Insurance Con- aniCs
good instead Of a bad report Of you ana
your property"
This was plainly a threat that if Mr.
Morrison did not settle the bill McEVoy
would send damaging statement concern
ing him and the condition of his property
to the Southeastern Tariff Association and
was considered an attempt at blackmail.
Mr. Morrison brought letter to the atten-
ton Of Acting Mayor Screven. who at once
called a meeting of the committee of the
whole to investigate the charges. There
were other parties present who had COM
plants against McEvoy. but this was the
only case gone into at length. IL not being
considered necessary TO investigate any
further.
Those who know McEvoy attribute
his unwarrantable action to ignor-
ance rather than criminal inten-
ton. The Job of chimbney contractor
is not a very desirable one. and McEvoy
was the only applicant for the position Of
contractor for the western district. The
ordinance requires that chimneys shall be
cleaned every three months and allows
charge of Is cents for each story Of each
chimney McEvoy has been very active
in enforcing the ordinance since his cleo
ton. Many people did not see the neces-
sity of cleaning their chmneys so often
and kicked against the work of the con-
tractor. II is said to have represented to
others besides Mr.. Morrison that he was
an agent of the Southeastern Tariff Asso-
citation. and that he had IL in his power to
make damaging reports of the condition
of their property.