The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-04-10
ANOTHER ONE FIRED.
ROBERT It. BYRNE DECAPITATED
BY CHIEF DEvINE.
Detailed Statement of the Case Not
He Abused Superior Officer.

Another fireman was decapitated by
Chief Devine yesterday. This time the
victim was, Robert T. Byrne, and the
alleged -offense which caused the dis
missal is said to be similar to that
for which ]. ]. Clark was given his
walking papers-using obscene and
abusive language to his superior Of
ficer.
The notice of dismissal this time is
couched in more respectful language
than in the case of Clarks discharge,
the following being copy of the no
tice served upon Mr.. Byrne yesterday:
Headquarters Fire Department, Salt
Lake City, Utah, April 9, 1896:
Robert T. Byrne, Substitute:
Dear Sir-You are hereby notified
that your services are no longer needed
in this department. Your time on the
pay roll will cease at 8 o'clock this
morning.
please turn over to Captain Work
man such property of the city as you
have in your possession. Respectfully,
JAMES DEVINE,
"Chief Engineer"
A full statement of the offense will,
of course, not be made public until
the board of fire and police commits
sioners meets. From what could be
learned around the headquarters last
evening, however, the trouble grew out
of Mr.. Byrnes actions after the run
to the blaze in Walters carpenter shop
on Market street last Wednesday
night 1t is said that Mr.. Byrne was
'polzing fun at one of the drivers
as the apparatus was backed into
place. Lieutenant Mccarthy COM
manded him to stop, but Byrne did
not obey orders, so it is alleged. The
lieutenant repeated his admonitlons,
whereupon Mr.. Byrne's walls of wrath
were opened and some of their con-
tents crystalized into TRADE of abuse
that was directed at the superior Of
ficer who spoke to him. The matter
was reported to the chief, and the dis
charge followed early the next morn
ing.
Mr. Byrne has simply been employed
as a substitute, his appointment never
having been confirmed by the commits
sion. He was appointed by the present
chief at the time last summer when
several firenen were suspended, nearly
all of whom have been reinstated.
AS Mr.. Byrne was only. a substitute,
it is not known to a certainty whether
the commission would have any power
A, to reinstate if the charges should moi
be sufficiently proven to warrant an
absolute dismissal. He will make
statement before the commission al
its next meeting and endeavor to Sc
cure an investigation, as he claims the
chiefs action was unwarranted and
the result of spitework. Like several
other members of the force, Mr.. Byrne
has engendered the enrnity of the CHIEF
during the past few months in being
compelled to go on the witness stand
and testify against him. In addition
TO this. those who are acquainted with
the real condition in the department
know we'll that Byrne belongs to a fac
tion which the chiefs adherents have
no particular love for.
The action of the chief yesterday has
given a color of truth to the rumol
that he is bent upon wedding out the
objectionable element in the depart
ment: that is, those who are objection
able to him It is runored that sew
erai others will follow in the footsteps
of Clark and Byrne, among whom vail
MANY believe. is slated as the next vic
tim. The new law gives the CHIEF
greater authority, for the reason thai
he cam discharge absolutely and III the
commission does not see fit to take the
cases ND the decree is final. On the
other hand, if the chief steps outside
Of his authority and commits ma
Iicious act in making the discharge he
stands in danger of being officially be-
! headed, for the law vests the com
mission with power to remove the
chief without cause by majority vote
AS a substitute for the dismissed
men the chief has appointed Thomas
Simpson, formerly an employee OF the
street railway company.