The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-07-09
TO GO AHEAD INVESTIGATING.
MORE FIREMEN SUMMONED BE-
FORE THE COMMITTEE.

VIII Have An Investigation of It's
Own II the Committee Has Any
Charges to Make Against the Chief.
kisrnan's suspension Upheld By
the ChairmRn-TeIephOn Got Mr..
CnmpOs Into Trouble.
The investigating committee OF council
will continue it's investigation of Fire
Chief Mcguire this afternoon. From what
can be learned the evidence will be equal
ly as interesting as that submitted at the
first hearing.
Alderman Charlton, chairman of the
committee, said yesterday that there are
a large number of witnesses yet to be
heard, and that some things will be de-
veoped Of considerable interest to the
people OF Savannah. The intimidation
practiced by Chief Mcguire, Mr. Charlton
said in suspending Fireman Herman be-
cause Of his appearance before the com
mittee in answer to a summons, will have
no effect upon it's work. Several other
members of the fire department have been
summoned before the committee, he said,
and he has no doubt they viii answer the
summons.
The investigation was all the talk yes
terday. and the somewhat lengthy report
Of the proceedings in the Morning News
was widely read.
Chief Mcguire and Chairman Grayson
Of the fire commission had little to say.
Il have received no notification of the
investigation" said Chief Mcguire, land
shall take no notice of it. Neither shall
1 undertake to make any reply at present
to the statements made by the witnesses,
except that the chargfe that was drunk
on the morning of the Hull fire, Sept. %,
last is false and that 1 will so prove by
the most undoubted testimony at the
proper time The people who make this
charge have always been bitterly opposed
to me, several of them being discharged
members of the fire department. Further
than this do not care to say"
As to the suspension of Foreman Kler-
nan, Chief Mcguire said Herman had vio-
lated the rules of the department in leav-
ing his post without permission. Had he
asked permission to absent himself, it
would have been granted. the chief said
Chairman Grayson upheld Chief Ma
grounds of discipline
This investigation threatens to demon
alize the whole department, said Chair
man Grayson. 1T is a bad state of at
fairs, when members of the department
are called before another body than that
In control of the department to give evil
dence against its head If they are al
lowed to do SO, leaving the department
at their own WILL and without any re-
gard for the authority of the chief OF or
the commission, we shall soon be in a
pretty state of decentralization. Under the
circumstances, it is necessary that the
most rigid discipline be maintained. Mem
bers of the department who receive sum-
mons to appear before the committee will
be permitted to do so by securing permits
sion OF the chief. II the chief declines TO
give them permission, they can apply to
me, and l will give them permission"
mo notice of the investigation would be
taken by the fire commission" Mr.. Gray
son said. I'VE have received no official
notice of the investigation and the COM
mission has not been invited to take part
in it in any way. Consequently we shall
ignore It, n, when the committee con-
cludes It's investigation. 1t has any charges
to prefer against Chief Mcguire the com
mission will take cognizance of the
charges and will investigate them. This
will give Mr.. Mcguire an opportunity to
action will depend upon the result of our
investigation of these charges"
Among the witnesses who have been
summoned to appear before the investi-
eating committee this afternoon are Fore
man Connolly of station No. l. Foreman
Jerry Murphy of chemical No. ], and Fire
man John G. Henderson, who Is now under
suspension by Chief Mcguire. Hender-
son is of the opinion that there is some
thing very peculiar in his treatment by
the chief. He Is the fireman who was
mentioned by the witnesses before the
committee Wednesday afternoon as hav-
Ing been ordered by the chief to climb
over the heads of two other iiremen on a
ladder into a window on River street dur
ing the Hull fire, and who was ordered to
come down and knock off" by the chief
because of his failure to execute the COM
mand. Henderson was dropped on account
of this affair. He afterwards applied for
reinstatement and was put back to work,
but was informed later that he must pass
a physical examination by the
health officer. He passed the
examination. as he thought. but was in
formed by Chief Mcguire that the health
officer had decided against him. He
went back to DIR. Drummer and secured a
certificate to the effect that he had pass
ed the required physical examination, but
after learning that Henderson was adj
dicted TO drink he had recommended
against him. The health officer stated
to Henderson that he had learned Of his
habits from Chief Mcguire. After this.
however. Henderson was put back to
work, and remained at work until last
Friday, when he was suspended by the
chief. According 10 Henderson. the only
reason for his suspension was his refusal
to surrender the letter from the health
officer to the chief. The chief was already
acquainted with the contents OF the letter
and had had u in his possession. Last
week he demanded the letter OF Hender-
son. who declined to give it up, but fur
nished the chief with copy. Later he
was telephoned by the chief that he would
give him one hour In which to deliver the
letter lie did not give up the letter and
was informed later that he could knock
on" This Is HendersOn's explanation OF
his suspension. IL seems that he had al
ready had an interview with Mr. Prender-
CAST, and since his suspension has placed
the letter In Mr.. Prendergast's hands
Inspector Frank Campos OF the water
department is one OF the men who Is sorry
he spoke since the Investigation Of the
fire chief begun. Campos has a complaint
against the telephone company. accord
ing TO an accounts lie undertook to tel
ephone chief Mcguire a few days ago some