The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-06-07
KILLED N A QUARREL.
Frank keenan, Shot Down by
Fireman Thomas Founder.
FOUR BULLETS IN HIS BODY.


der With Having Testified FaIseIy
Before the Fire Committee of Coun-
ell which Recommended His Dis
missnI-The Quarrel Between the
Men Hogan in May Week-Ths
story of the Tragedy Told at the
COrOner's Inquest.
Frank keenan, was shot and almost in
stantly killed by Thomas Founder yes
yesterday afternoon. The killing occurred
at s O'Clock in front Of fire headquarters
at South Broad and Abercorn streets.
Founder is engineer Of engine No. g.
keenan, was until recently a member Of
the chemical company. He was discharged
along with Fireman Laird Of the same
company dag before yesterday by Mayor
Myers on recommendation Of the fire COM
mittee. The discharge was on account az
a quarrel between the two men, which
occurred at headquarters.
keenan, attributed his discharge TO tes-
timony given against him by Founder he
fore the committee. He had made threats
against him and only a few minutes be-
fore the shooting he met Chief Puder aul
told him that he intended TO whip Poun-
der. The chief told him II they had any
differences to settle to settle them away
from the fire headquarters; and Keenan,
promised him that he would not 90 there
He went and met his death.
Founder. who heard of Keenan's threats,
had armed himself.
Accounts diner as TO what occurrsd
between the two men previous to the
shooting. Founder and Driver Bob Glass
Of No. engine said that Keenan, came
in and attacked Founder, striking him
several blows. Founder jerked away from
him and stepped out side the door. pull
ing his pistol from his shirt bosom. Kea-
nan followed and Founder fired several
times in rapid succession at short range
Other witnesses deny that keenan, struck
Founder, and say that he simply shook
his finger in his face. There were few peo-
pie in the neighborhood Of the engine
house at the time. Keenan,, after being
shot. staggered back across the street TO
the green in the middle Of South Broad
street. where he fell. and died in two or
three minutes.
Drs. Dunn. Aiken. Harris and waring
all Of whom were nearby, arrived very
shortly after keenan, fell. DR.. Harris ex-
tracted a bullet from his right temple. but
the man was dead before the bullet had
been removed.
Chief McDermotL who was standing on
the steps Of the police barracks, heard the
shots and ordered Policeman Speieht. who
was on duty al the sallyport, 10 the scene
After the shooting Founder went inside the
engine house, put on his coat and started
across Abercorn street on his way to the
police barracks, with his pistol in his
hand. He met Policeman Speight in the
middle Of the street and surrendered to
him. Chief McDermott took charge of
Founder, and carried him to the barracks.
instruetinT Speight TO preserve order and
keep the crowd away from around the
body.
crowd gathered rapidly. There was
little excitement, however. The killing was
done so quickly that hardly any one knew
how il happened Keenan's body was taken
IN the police ambulance TO his home on
Broughton street. near Price. An exam
ipation showed that there We're four
wounds. Two were deadly. One entered
the right temple. piercing the brain. An
other was in the throat, severing the caro-
It'd artery and the windpipe. There was
another bullet wound on top of the head
and one in the right shoulder
Fifteen minutes after the shooting there
was only small crowd left in. front of the
headquarters. The finemen seemed dazed
at the tragedy which had occurred amone
them and had little to say. keenan, was a
popular fellow and was well liked by most
of his companions. Chief Puder. Assist
ant Chief Mcclure, and Alderman Willink
chairman of the fire committee. had ar.
rived. but seemed to have little to say
about the killing. A Morning News repor.
ter saw Founder in the upper room il
which he had been placed in the station
house, but he said he had been advised no.
to talk about the affair until the coroner,
inquest had been held.
Driver Glass of the same company wa.
arrested by Chief McDermott at the re
quest Of John Duffy, an ex-fireman VIII,
was with keenan, when the killing oc
Cured. Glass was not locked up, but wa.
detained at the barracks as witness a
the inquest.
The difference between the two mel
which ended in the death of keenan, be
gan over very small matter. In the Ma,
week parade of the fire department engin
No. g. as the largest engine and the onl,
one drawn by three horses, attracted gen
eral attention. In the Morning News re
port of the parade next day special men
tion was made of the new engine and tn
men with IT were mentioned. This SCENE,
to excite the jealousy of some of the othe
members of the department at headouar
ters and resulted in a warm dis
cussion a day or two afterwards betwee
Laird Of the engine company and Keenan,
of the chemical company, which ende,
in the two men abusing each other round
ly. The matter came to the ears of tn
committee and an investigation wa
held. Owing to the absence of Mayor NV
ers from the city the report of the com
mittee was not acted upon until his re