The morning news., 1897-08-19
MAY CONCLUDE THIS WEEK.
PROGRESS BEING MADE IN FIRE
CHIEF INVESTIGATION.

nesses Testify to His SObriety ON
Sept. - Last and Other Occasions.
Old Firemen Say the Chief Was n
Good Fire Fighter in Volunteer
Dnys-ConstabIe KiIey severe on
James BrOwn-Witness Lee Throws
side Light on Politics.
Good progress was made at the fire in
vestigation yesterday afternoon. 1t is ex-
pected now that the evidence will be
completed this week. The testimony yes
terday was rather more interesting than
usual.
Mr. Herman Myers was the first witness
put on the stand by Mr.. Lawrence. He
was first questioned about the Hull fire.
He arrived shortly after the alarm was
turned in He saw Chief Mcguire several
times. The chief appeared like a perfectly
sober man. There was no appearance Of
liquor at all. He was some what excited,
however Mr.. Mcguire was at his office
nearly every day last year, Mr.. Myers
said, and he never noticed any signs of
intoxication.
Cross questioned by Mr. Adams Mr..
Myers said he arrived at the Hull fire
about 10 minutes after the alarm struck.
During the whole of last year Mr.. Myers
said he watched Mr. Mcguire closely on
account Of reports concerning him and
was pleased to find him always endeavor-
ing to do his duty.
Capt Thomas Screven was the next wit
ness. He was questioned as to the dis
trct messenger fire. He was on the
Guards hal balcony that night when Chief
Mcguire drove past. He hailed him on
| his return and asked why he had gone
south. The chief replied that he had been
to take Sidney Lilienthal home he having
been hurt al the fire. Capt Screven said
that he then got into the buggy with the
chief and rode to his home with him. The
chief was entirely sober.
M f. Kain was put uD by Mr.. Lawrence.
He is employed at +. J. MOrgan's place
at River and West Broad streets. Mr..
| Morgan furnishes goods to the depart
| ment, he said. Mr.. Mcguire also buys
! goods for his house there. Witness is a
personal friend of Chief Mcguire and the
latter occasionally takes dinner with him.
Both are members of the order of Amer-
can Firemen and personal friends. He has
never known the chief to go into the bar
| On the day of the Smith-Dixon fire Mr.
| Mcguire was in the store. He was not
intoxicated. Witness said the chief had
occasionally taken glass of beer at the
| dinner table. He had seen the chief take
| drinks at weddings, christenngs and the
| like.
John H. Williams, an ex-freman, was
| the next witness. He was at No 5 en-
gine house in January last He got off
| the night before the election by his own
| request and the next day was his reg
| ular day off He went of his own will
| and accord, and would do the same thing
asaln. witness said he was volunteer
fireman with Mr.. Mcguire for seven
years. He responded to all fires the
same as any other member of the com
pany, both before and after being elected
secretary He was always one of the
nrst TO respond and was an active fire.
hghter. Witness had been a voter in Sa-
Vannah twenty-seven years, he said, al
ways paid his own taxes and voted as he
pleased. He went on the department the
last time on Dec. last. He did not
know who put him on. He was sent for
by Foreman Steinberg and told to go to
work. Witness said that his purpose in
! getting off was not to do political work
but he did do some of it after he got
down town. He was a Citizens Club man.
lhe chief had never said anything TO him
| about politics. Witness asked permission
TO make a statement concerning Assistant
Chlet MourO'S statement the day before
that he did not know if Chief Mcguire
! had ever done any work at fires in volun-
NSSi Nliilt9. MI. NOuTO was assist tant chief
under Chlet Butler, when Mr. Maguire
was an active volunteer fireman. the wit
ness said. Witness said that he was dis
missed from the fire department. being
| turned down, as he understood, by Dr.
Drummer, on account of his eyes Witness
said that he met Chief Mcguire at the Hun
fire about a. m, ana found him perfect
ly sober.
Fireman l.. J. Taylor was sworn. He
said that at the October election he was
only sub In the department and did not
require permission to get off He was at
the Christ church fire, being with the
aerial truck. No time was lost in put
ting up the ladders on Congress street. he
said, the crew being sufficient for this
work. There was no Interference with the
work of other tiremen. on the dav Of the
October election he did not see the
! chief about getting off nor did the chief
| say anything to him about political work
Fireman NJ. J. Drury said that he was
| with No company. Has been a men,
! ber of the department nineteen months.
| lie was present the day after the Smith
! Bros fire when Mr.. Murphy came to see
! about couplings for the chemical engine.
/ The chief was entirely sober Witness
/ was asked as TO Henderson's suspension
/ at the HUI fire He was inside the build
! ing and so was Pitts. The tank of a wa
/ ter closet had fallen on him, he said Pitts
was holding up the tank ana
! taAltU Tor neln. henderson
| was holding the hose on the ladder. Pitts
/ had the nozzle and witness was backing
| him up. When witness was hurt PITS
| called 10 Henderson TO come In. Hender-
son said he would be id If he would go
In there, that he would give up his job
/ FIRST. Witness came down about five min
/ utos after and later went back up the
/ ladder and into the building again.
! Witness said he was on on the last city
! election day. having asked "a week ahead
/ OF time. lie had never missed an election
/ in Savannah IN his life, he said. He voted
as he pleased and without Instructions
from anybody. Witness disclaimed hav-
/ ing done any political work. lie was a
member of the Citizens Club. ne said.
Constable Dan kilcy was the next wit
ness He denied having ever gone to
James Brown 20 get him to act as
challenger az the polls by request OF Chief
Naguire. and Brown lied when ne said so.
| Tho day before the election ne said he
passed hy headquarters and spoke 20
Brown. saying. Hello. Cuts. how are
! YOU going 20 vote Tomorrow Brown To-
| p'fa1 that ho didn't know "YOu had hot