The evening times., 1895-10-23

The committee Of citizens having charge
OF ex-Firenian Wenzel's appeal for re
hearing again appeared before Commis-
sioner Ross this morning, at his instance,
with proposition 10 quash the findings
of the trial board SO far as they relate
10 the three men, Mahoney, Martin. and
Wcnzel former members OF the force, whose
record was blackcned by the verdict.
The first two named resigned and wenzel
was dismissed under the charge implied
by the trial board. that each had sworn
falsely at the hearing.
The proposition iau another clause, and
that was tnat WcnZel SHAH he restored 10 the
force, and, should it be necessary, that he
shall be given a trtal upon the charge OF
falsirying. II is shown that the accused
has never been hefore the trial board, bat
that his dismissal resulted from i con
fIict OF test imnRy given at the Investigation
ofcbargespreferreia gainst Foreman Walsh
THEIR PROP oSITiON.
Upon this point ,iie committee said:
I'm support OF our proposition allow us
TO 81 y that these tiirsenien appeared before
said board as witnesses. Two or them had
resigned rather than pay SO each on
threatened charge for dropping crumbs
from piece of PIE, md not being members
of the fire department at the time OF the
trial. they were not within the trial boards
jurisdictions: therefore, II transcribed its
powers in recommending the attachment
OF it's reflective findings to their resIgna-
tons, and when your official stamp OF APP
proval was affixed to that Illegal reconi-
neDdltion, il became, in our judgment. IL
beious, because 1t exposed these men, who
were then private citizens, TO public hatred
and derision, and impaired their means of
making an honorable living.
.'If Mehaney and Martin were members
OF said department at The time Of the trial
Il Recommendation OF the attachment Oft aid
Findings TO copies of their dismissals- " ould
have been proper, If said findings CON-
tanned good Caute why they should not
again he employed by the Di,trict Govern
ment; but under the pre-, ent circumstances
the attempt to overcome tes timony in
certain cafe by crying II down as false
" ithout proof, and then attaching the
alleged faI.e accusations to said " illnesses
re. e.ignations. is prina facie evidence of
malicious sncSs.'
Tine IIght of the Commissioners to- dis
miss employees is not questioned. but the
action taken under the circumstances, it
was claimed was in transcendence of the
powers OF the trial board.
The removal OF WcDZel. the committee
claimed. was the equivalent of fine
of $500 or more, imposed by judge
upon the mere presumption of guilt. The
board met to try Foreman Walsh, it was
stated, and there were not even attested
charges against WenZel.
A wANTON CHARGE.
"There is not TO be found" continues the
committee, "in the category of crime
more cruel, Geviiisn anu wanton Charge
than that brought against Wenzel for tell
ing what he alleges 10 be the truth about
Chief Paris friend" meaning Walsh,
ao,1 ,,,a clv ma nnar In which this yprdicf
was sprung upon your honorable board to
get WenZel dismissed without a trial,
merely to overcome his testimony"
Mr. Albert NJ Raymond, who read the
committees report, said:
II appreciate the value OF Wenzel's good
name, and have sufficient confidence in
his integrity to offer Chief Paris a reward
Of 81 900 to publish in the Times or Post
for public information the evidence in
proof Of wenzel's guilt as perjurer, and
until he produces it we appeal to the hon
orable board, the public and the press TO
stand by these young men who evidently
have been numerically injured in name
by cowardly comrades and their chief,
who should have been their best friend"
When the statement had been made, Com
missioner Ross suggested to the committee
that he had asked for suggestion as to
the best method Of obtaining the facts,
but that none had been made. He said
Attorney Duvall, an honorable man, had
been selected to rehear the case, and had
gone over the case carefully and conscien-
tiously. He verified the previous verdict.
In response to this the committee said
that it was a rehearing of the case against
Walsh, and that there was no opportunity
to introduce new testimony.
Mr.. Ross consented TO again lay the case
before the full board of Commissioners.
The report was signed by A. NJ. Raymond.
L. D. Walter, NJ. D., and James McCand
lish.
Assessments for water main were ordered