The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-07-10
SEVERE ON CHIEF MAGUIRE.
DAMAGING TESTIMONY AGAINST
HIM BY sUBORDINATES.

DeIAAAHnE ElFeAnGn lot A-uAlAAGAA
work - Chairman Grayson Also
Charged with Putting Firemen Mt
Political NVOrk-The Chiefs Man
agcment of Fires Criticised by
Foreman Connolly of station No. 1
and Foreman Murphy of Chemical
No. I.
The second day of the Mcguire investi-
CATION was as interesting as the first. A
number of witnesses were examined, main
ly firemen and ex-fremen. The tendency
of the testimony was to show that the
chief had carried politics into the depart
ment to the extent of permitting, encour-
aging and even influencing fremen TO ex-
ert themselves in behalf of his political
faction. Several of the witnesses also tes-
titled TO the poor judgment Of the chief
tn the management of fires.
After a three hours session the com
mittee adjourned until o'clock this after
noon, when the investigation will prob
ably be concluded. There is considerable
more evidence to be presented, howver.
Some of the evidence submitted yesterday
was to the effect that Chairman Grayson
of the fire commission had used his posi-
ton for political purposes.
The members of the committee took
their seats promptly at o'clock. Mr..
Beckett called for John J. Connolly, who
responded Connolly is foreman of No.
engine company. He stated that he had
been a fireman thirty-two years. He was
questioned as to the Planters rice mill
fire, and said he could only explain the
portion he was at. He had a line on
River street, where he remained until it
got so hot that the men had 10
move back and later had to move
back again. They were playing upon the
granary, a wooden building covered with
corrugated iron. There was no chance to
save the mill building when the iremen
arrived. The men entered but were call
ed out on account of the danger. Water
was poured on the building from several
streams
Mr.. Beckett undertook to show by Con-
nally that the firemen continued to pour
the granary should have been looked after
Connolly did not testify directly to this ef-
feet, however He thought the granary
could have been saved If ali the streams
had been concentrated on it earlier.
As to the Hull fire, Connolly gave an ac-
count of the part taken by him in 1t. He
first ran out a plug stream and then went
under the bluff where he got on a stream.
He saw the raising Of the truck under the
bluff and quoted the chiefs remark to
Herman to break the - thing-you have
no business TO have anything that will
break" He thought it was a strange re-
mark for the chief TO make. He did not
notice anything out of the way
in the chiefs conduct outside
of this remark. He had never heard him
swear at the men. 1t was against the
rules. He knew Chief Mcguire when he
was secretary of the Waiver company. He
never saw him fight fire and did not con-
slider him a fireman then.
Leaves of absence were not granted with
out the approval of the foreman previous
to Mr.. Maguire's election as chief. This
had been done since Connolly said He
related an instance of his own experience,
where the chief granted a leave of alb
sence over his head. At the time of the
last county election one of his men, Chris
tian applied for a leave of absence, which
he signed, remarking at the time that 1t
made no difference whether the foreman
signed IL or not that the chief had told
them they could go anyhow McGrath was
also granted leave at the same time. No
substitutes were sent for the two men.
One OF them reported promptly at the
expiration of his leave and the other did
not
Some explanation as to the sys-
TEN of reliefs was given by
the witness. The reliefs were stopped
on election day and the men whose day
1t was off were kept in the engine houses.
The relief was stopped to let the other
two men go. Connolly did not think they
belonged to the crowd he was In. on the
day OF the city election two men were
taken from his house by order of the chief
without any leave OF absence being ap-
proved by him. Previous to this there was
a rule in the department that no member
should dabbe in politics.
Connolly said that one OF his men, Nc
Grath, had been guilty of profanity to-
wards him. McGrath came into the house
intoxicated. He suspended him and Nc
Grath cursed him roundly He went to
the telephone to call policeman and Nc
Grath went out returning presently with
the chief and cursed him again In the
chiefs presence. The chief said Il was all
right, he would apologize when he was
SOBER connolly replied that mat was
poor satisfaction. He preferred charges
against McGrath, but heard nothing furth-
er from Il with the exception OF an an
nouncement that McGrath had been fined
for being intoxicated, charges preferred by
Foreman Connolly
In answer TO questions by Mr.. Charlton
Connolly gave an accaunt OF converse
ton with Chief Mcguire whom he in.
formed that he had been summoned to app
pear before the committee. The chief told
him all right but not TO go until he told
him. To-day he said the chief telephon-
ed that he could 20. but that he must
not remain after he had given his evil
dence
As TO Kiernan's action the witness said
he thought Herman had complied with
the rule IN giving notice 20 the acting
foreman Of the truck OF his intended alb.
Rence and whereabouts
Foreman jeremiah Murphy OF Chemical
Company No !. was sworn.
Before I so into this Investigation. gen.
tlemen" said Murphy, Il want you 20 un.
derstand that ] don't come here in the
interest OF the chief nor in the interest OF
the Insurance men. I simply come here
20 let the people ~ Savannah know how
matters stand len the fire department. "
Murphy said he had been On the depart.
mcnt seven years. AT the time the bcsI
men IN the department. were dluehtr~,f