The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-08-10
PROGRESS OF INVESTIGATOR.
MORE WITNESSES HEARD by THE
FIRE COMMISSION.

FIRE COMMISSION.
City Attorney Adams Amended the
Charges Against Chief Mcguire.
MIR. Lnwrence's Examination Bring
ing Out Points in His Clients Fnv-
Or-Ex-Fireman buckley AnnOunc-
ed That He Does Not Propose 10
Testify Before the Commission.
Testimony of Witnesses Practical
Iy the Same as Before the Investi-
eating Committee OF Council.
The fire commission resumed its invcs-
tigation of the charges against Fire Chief
Mcguire yesterday afternoon. Fair pro-
gress was made. six Of the witnesses for
the prosecution being heard. An effort
will be made 10 conclude the testimony
for the prosecution this afternoon.
The witnesses who were heard yesterday
afternoon had all been before the investl-
eating committee Of council and conse-
quently their testimony is not of as mucn
interest to the public as if it had never
been heard. Under the searching cross
examination by Mr.. a. a. Lawrence the
evidence of some of the witnesses, which
appeared to be specially severe upon Chief
Mcguire when heard by council commit
tee. developed points favorable to the
chief
When the commission assembled
at . o'clock yesterday afternoon
Mr.. Adams moved the amendment
Of the charges, already on file,
so as TO specify intoxication on the part of
the chief on the night OF Sept p, within
a few hours of the Hun fire, and also on
other occasions, these matters not being
clearly stated in the original charges.
Mr.. Lawrence objected TO the latter part
of Mr. Adams amendment, drinking to
excess at various times and places, there
by incapacitating himself" etc, on the
grounds that times and places were not
specified.
Mr.. Adams held that In an investga-
tTon of this character it was not necessary
to be extremely specific The answer OF
the fire chief invited a charge of this kind
he said, as he had stated broadly IN writ
ing that he had never been intoxicated
since becoming a member of the depart
ment.
Mr.. Lawrence replied that the law. re-
ouired that written charges should be
made and times and places specliied.
would be unjust to allow the Introduction
of evidence to prove offenses other than
those charged, he said, when it would be
too late TO secure witnesses in rebuttaL
The accused must know what he was on
trial for, he said.
Mr.. Lawrence requested that the wit
nesses for the prosecution be equestered
They were accordingly sworn and sent
downstairs. Attention was called to the
presence Of ex-Firemau j. NJ. Buckley
who, it was said might be called as Wit
ness. and Chairman Grayson requested
him to retire. Mr.. Buckley emphaucally
announced that he did not intend TO be
witness.
Il have too much respect for my evil
dence to be a witness al this tnvesuga-
ton" he said Il am here only as spec
tator."
Chairman Grayson reminded Mr. Buck
ley that if he intended to be present as
spectator he must respect the commission
and Buckley replied that he would
Ex-City Detective George w. Bossell
was the first witness called.
Bossen testified 10 seeing Mcguire I'M
der the influence of liquor on the night
before the Hull fire He was pretty gay'
though not entirely drunk. This was be-
tween 10 and II o'clock. Frank Campos
was with him. When witness last saw
him he was going towards the Citizens
Bank. He did not see him after that time
The witness testified that he saw Chief
Mcguire doing political work at the city
election.
Bossen said that the chief was In uni
form The chief tried TO get James
Brown out of line to work for the Cit
zens Club at the city election. The wit
ness had an argument with Mcguire, who
pulled out an envelope filled with money
and remarked that he would give him $50
for his vote.
Both sides were after Brown, Bosseli
said. Mcguire got him off. but he came
back. The Liberals voted him. lie dld
not know how much Browns vote cost, he
said.
The witness said he was a political en-
envy Of Mcguire. but felt personally friend
ly towards him
James II Vaughn testified to seeing Chief
Mcguire on che night Of Sept. Z2-23 IN an
intoxicated condition. He was in hack
with Sidney LilienthaL He looked into
the hack Mcguire was leaning over and
tried to hide his face This was near
Broughton and Price streets.
James Humphries testified as TO the in
toxication of the chief on the night of the
HUI fire. He FIRST saw him about 1870
O'Clock on BrOughton, near prayton. lie
was on the southside Of Broughton when
the nrC cliei ana sidney l-lltulutl came
near running into him. AT Broughton
and Drayton he met Messrs Hanley and
Kavanaugh. who asked him If he had seen
the fire chief About the time the bars
closed up a hack came down Broughton
street and some one called out, II want
another drink He recognized
Maguire's voice. The hack drove
into Drayton street. stopped in
front of Lanes side door and three men
got out and went in. They were In there
some little time Lilionthal and the other
man came our first and called out, Jack,
come on" Then they went out and got
the chief He heard Mcguire say that he
would have Lilienthal on the fire depart
ment soOn The latest time that DE saw
Mr.. Mcguire that night was about
o'clock. lie was very much under the I'M
fiuence OF liquor The last time he saw
the chief he was on the north side OF
South Broad street. between Price and
Habersham streets He was alone and
staggering The witness said pc was OPP
posed TO Mr. Mcguire politically. but NOT
personally.
Fireman A. J. Herman was the next wit
ness. He had been a member OF The fire
department eight years but is now under
suspension, for am alleged violation of
the rules. Mr. Kieuan did not consider