The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-07-15
MURPHY AND FLYNN LAID OFF.
FIRE COMMISSION INVESTIG ATED
CHIEF MAGUIRE's CHARGES.


dinntiOn-FIynn Got seven Days
and So For sleeping ON Duty-In-
surnncc Men Protest Against Sus-
pensions and Demand InVeStiga-
tiOn-Chairman Grayson'S Reply
to the Mayor.
Foreman jeremiah Murphy of chemical
company No. l was suspended from service
for ten days, and Assistant Foreman Cor
nelius Flynn of the same company was sus-
pended seven days and in addition sentenc-
ed to pay a fine of 50 by the fire commits
sion yesterday afternoon.
The charge against Foreman NIurphv
was INSTRUMENTATION and that against As
sistant Foreman Flynn, sleeping while on
watch duty at night Both charge were
brought by Chief Mcguire, who acted as
prosecutor during the commissions inves-
LEGATION.
The meeting was called especially for the
consideration of the charges brought
against the two men. 1t was prompted
by letter from the mayor and the enclos-
ure of letter addressed to him bv a corr.
mlttee or insurance men. Mayor Me-
drlms letter to the commission is as fol-
lows: 60 i0i-
July Is, lS97.-Gentlemen: I enclose Won
communication just received:
Inc nigh personal character Of the
se1tlelheh composing the committee. as
Wen as the Importance of the interests
represented by them demand Dromnt AZ.
tloh' l nave no desire to interfere win
YOU IN the discharge of your duties but
an emergency exists which must be met
- tue .l' nave the honor to request
mat your body viii convene at once ana
give due answer through this office m
TIE communication Very truly,
'P w. Meldrim. NIavor.,
Inc communication referred to nv the
mayor follows: '-i'
savannah. Ga, July IS, lS97-Hon. p.
w. Meldrim, Mayor, City: Dear Sir-'Tbe
press contains the announcement of The
further suspension of men occllpvinpr i'm
portant positions in the fire department
the result Of recent inquiry of special com
mlttee OF council. Without comnentine
upon same or espousing any cause. we
respectfully request that you call the fire
commissioners together Immediately and
ask the reinstatement of the said men at
least until they have been tried by the
said committee
our reason for this is that it must ap-
pear TO all thinking men that the removal
Oh men hitherto adjudged competent and
reliable and the substitution of new men
without the same experience, necessarily
seriously cripples the service. and in the
event of fire would seriously teopardize
the property OF the citizens of Savannah.
by the absence of skilled help, in addition
to this menace, when this news goes
abroad, we greatly fear the effect upon
the Insurance companies operating here
whose aim is to protect the said property
but who with such a condition of affairs
are liable to become alarmed and cancel
upon insurers in this city.
The situation is, n our Judgment very
grave and we earnestly request your CO.
operation and that of the commits ioners.
Very respectfully,
John F. Wheaton,
"W. H. Daniel
"W. l.. Wilson
COMMITTEE"
Replying to Mai. Meldrim and assuring
him of the intention OF the commissioners
to hold a speedy investigation of the
charges, Chairman Grayson wrote the
following:
July "A. 1S97-Hon. 2. w. Meldrim.
Mayor City of Savannah. Dear Sir: We
beg to acknowledge your favor of the
18th inst, containing copy of communlca-
ton from Committeeman Messrs Jno. F.
Wheaton, w. H. Daniel and w l.. Wilson,
relative to recent suspensions in the fire
department. Were it not for the high char
N"N+N
the gentlemen composing this committee,
and their evident desire to further the
public interest, we would be disposed to
treat their communication as an unwar-
ranted and dangerous Interference with
our efforts to maintain discipline in the
department.
Accepting the communication, however,
in the spirit in which il is sent, we beg to
make this report 20 your honor. The sus-
pensions referred to are those of Fore
man Murphy and Assistant Foreman
Flynn. Foreman Murphy is charged with
fragrant and open breach of discipline
committed I'm the cOmpanys quarters and
in the presence of his men. Assistant Fore
man Flynn is charged with being asleep
on his watch. Suspension of the accused
is the usual and customary procedure
pending an investigation by the commits
sion. The assumption Of the gentlemen,
composing the committee, that the places
of these suspended men are being filed
by inexperienced members of the depart.
ment is entirely unfounded and leads US
to believe that these excellent gentlemen
have been mislead b. persons
who have not the interest of
our city at heart.
Mr.. j. +. CuIlum has been appointed
foreman In the place and stead OF Fore
man Murphy. Mr.. Cullum has been con-
nected with the Savannah fire department
seventeen years. For thirteen years he
was foreman serving under Chiefs Fer
nandez, Puder and Mcguire During all
these years, so far as we know. there has
been no complaint as 20 the efficiency of
Mr. Cullom. either as a fireman OF as an
officer Ia charge OF men. Feeling salts
fed Of the efficiency OF Mr.. Cullum we
feel entirely justified and satisfied in maxi
ing the ad Interim appointment; pending
the investigation OF the charges against
Foreman Murphy.
In this connection we desire TO say TO
your honor that careful inspection Of the
records Of this department viii disclose
the fact that the average experience and
duration Of the service OF the men. now
employed in the department.. varies but
Hide from any other period during the his
tory OF the department.. with this ex-
PLANTATION we are at loss TO understand
how the suspension OF two men In the
department, for cause affecting their mer-
Us as iircmon, could possibly cause any
uneasiness among Insurers and cause a
cancellation Of existing contracts here.
We can well understand how an OK
parte investigation, In which scarcely any
save notorious political partisans, dis