The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-04-29
THE FlREMEN DIDN'T SEE 1T.
COMMISSIONER GRAYsON ATTACK
ED AT HEADQUARTERS.

4
Ex-Ffreman John HanIey His Assail-
ant-He Cursed and Struck the
Commissioner and Got Away Tn
mOIested-The Attack Supposed TO
Have Grown ont OF HanIey's Dis
missaI From the Department Some
Time AEO-FOreman CuiIum of No.
Engine Company Under suspi-
cion of Abetting HanIey-EX-FiTe-
man John Duffy, WhO Was With
HanIey at the Time, Arrested and
Orders Issued for the Arrest Of
Hanley.
A difficulty at the fire headquarters late
yesterday afternoon is causing great deal
of discussion around the city 1t was a
small affair and would have attracted lit
the attention but for the bitter feelings
which have been created by recent chang
es in the fire department and the general
~ heated condition Of politics.
The fire commission was holding a ses-
sion in the Office Of Chief Mcguire. Both
commissioners. Chairman W. l.. Grayson,
and Mr.. W. 5. Nell. were present The place
of the third commissioner is still vacant,
no appointment having been made as yet
by Mayor Myers 10 fill the vacancy caused
by the resignation of Commissioner Hugh
Logan. Chief Mcguire was also present.
About $50 o'clock, or little later. Mr.,
Grayson stepped out Of the chiefs office
and walked back to the telephone room in
the rear. As he was coming out Of the
room he met John Hanley, an ex-member
of the department. Hanley was one Of
the men discharged by the commissioners
shortly after they went into office. NO
reason for the discharge was given at the
time nor since, though Chairman Gray
son stated that the commission had good
reason for its action.
Mr.. Grayson spoke to Hanley and the
latter replied that he did not want TO
speak to any g. cracker - -
John Duffy, another eX-hreman, VINO was
discharged from the department just De
fore the Keenan-Ponder killing, was stand
ing near Hanley. ,..,.
but told Hanley that he must not tax 10
him that way in the engine house. nan
ley invited him to come out into the zane
aud have ii out Mr.. Grayson declined
the invitation, telling Hanley that ne
could not AFFORD to have any trouble with
him. Hanley then struck at Mr. Gray
son, hitting him in the race. MT. gray
son jumped back as If to draw weapon,
but did not do so. He then walked back
10 the office and informed Chief Mcguire
y
pened. Hanley, in the meantime, had walk
ed back into the lane. Chief Mcguire
went TO the telephone and calling up the
police barracks, asked that policeman
be sent to the fire headquarters 1t nap
pened that the sallyport officer had been
sent off to look after another matter, ana
there was no one at the barracks to send.
A Morning News reporter, VINO heard or
the matter at the barracks, went TO the
headquarters. Chairman Grayson gave
an account OF the difficulty substantial
ly as stated above.
A peculiar feature of the affair was
that although there were several hremen
in and around the engine house, none CT
them saw or heard anything OF the diff
Guilty. Not one of them saw Hanley
strike Mr.. GraysOn or heard his abusive
language. 1t was very evident that the
hremen anticipated a difficulty, and had
made II convenient not TO see or hear II.
Foreman Mcfarland of the engine com
pany was out at the time and Foreman
Murphy of the chemical company came
IN just as the difficulty occurred. Had
either one been present the difficulty
would probably not have occurred, as the
rules prohibit lettering in the houses hy
parties not connected with the depart
ment.
The difficulty is likely to have unpleas-
ant consequences for Foreman Cullum Of
NO. 2 engine company on West Broad
street Mr. Grayson was informed by the
hremen that Cullum and young Hanley
came to the headquarters together in the
afternoon and spent considerable time
there going off together to a wedding and
afterwards coming back again. Cullum. it
was stated. was outside on the street when
The difficulty occurred and afterwards
went away with Hanley. 1t was stated
that some OF the men We're trying to per-
suade Cullum to take Hanley away with
him at the time the difhculty occurred. as
Hanley was drinking and had made
threats against Chairman Grayson.
The report of the affair spread around
the city and was generally discussed from
various standpoints. AS Hanley's friends
have always charged that he was dis
charged for political reasons the affair is
not likely to lessen the present bad state
Of feeling between the two political fac
tons
The matter was reported to the police
barracks, and Chief McDermott ordered
the arrest of Hanley and Duffy. Duffy
was arrested last night by Policeman
Haar. He is charged with assaulting and
striking Mr.. Grayson. This is evidently an
error, as Mr.. Grayson said nothing of
Duffy making any attack on him.