The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-12

Chief Mcguire, having had long experience
as a fireman, and having made a special
study OF the fire department Of this city,
Is eminently qualified to be its executive
officer.
DRUNKENNESS.
We find that The testimony for the pros-
ecuton on the charge of drunkenness. on
the night of Sept p, 1896, before y O'Clock.
was unreliable, coming largely from men
who had been dismissed from the depart
ment and the Guys service for goJd cause,
and who acknowledged on the stand that
they were prejudiced against the accused.
Their testimony was so grossly cCntradic-
tory as 10 discredit it entirely, and more
over was impeached by reliable and i'm
partial persons who were in no manner
connected with Chief Mcguire or the fire
department.
With respect 10 the charge Of drunken
ness after 12 o'clock on the night of Sept.
p, 1886 il was proven by reliable and I'M
impeached testimony, that Mr.. Mcguire
was at home and perfectly sober al that
hour.
With respect to the charge of drunken
ness at the Hull fire on the morning OF
Sept %, 1896, we find by the testimony of
numbers Of the most prominent men in
Savannah, as well as almost every mem
Der Of the fire department present, than
this charge was false and untrue.
We find that Chief Mcguire was neither
intoxicated, nor under the influence of
liquor. at any time on the 22d or 23rd Of
September, 1896
The charge Of drunkenness at the Dis
trict messenger fire was abandoned by
counsel for the city during the progress
of The trial.
With respect 10 the charge of drunken
ness on the evening after the Smith fire,
we find that il Is based upon the unsup-
ported testimony of Foreman jeremiah
Murphy and is entirely disproved by he
testimony of numerous hremen and citi-
zens.
With respect to the charge of drunken
ness on the 18th day of January last, we
find that the charge is made upon the I'M
supported testimony of Foreman jeremiah
Murphy and is completely disproved by
the testimony of prominent citizens
We find the charges of using the fire
department for political purposes, and TO
promote the interests of certain political
parties and men, to be utterly unfounded.
Out Of the numerous specifications under
this head, the evidence of che prosecution
failed to make out a prima facie case
against the chief. The foremen when con
fronted with their journals, admitted that
they had upon the occasions named been
furnished with men in the place of those
who had been granted leaves of absence,
and that they had ample force to properly
conduct their departments The very men
whom it was charged that the chief had
and whom he was charged with
having detailed for political work, posi-
lively denied having ever been placed I'M
der any constraint whatever by the chief
or that the chief knew how they were
going to vote, unless by inference.
1t, therefore, appearing, from the evil
dence that Chief Mcguire is a sober up-
right man, a fearless fireman, a faithful
~ hi icrapt 10 =,
position of fire chief, and that under his
the department has been
raised to a high state of efficiency, and the
evidence compelling US to find him not
guilty upon each and every charge pre-
ferred it is considered, ordered and ad-
judged that he be and is hereby duly ac-
quilted of the same.
WIN. L. GRAYSON, Chairman.
II. 8. NELL,
GEO. w. PARISH,
Board of Fire Commissioners, Savannah,
Ga.
The commissions decision soon became
known throughout the city and was re-
ceived with varying expressions of ap-
porval or disapproval according to the
attitude toward the chief and the COM
mission of the commentators. Naturally
familiar with the situation was '"What
will council do about it?" 1t is
evident that this question will
be very soon answered. In all
a meeting of council will be
called early this week. probably Monday
night, to receive the report and take ac-
ton thereon. That steps to impeach the
Ice Will -. tal
init of a doubt, and the only question is
as TO how council will go about it.
One of the aldermen, who has taken a
leading part in the council proceedings
against the chief, was called on yesterday
afternoon and given the news Of the de-
cision. We'll" was his immediate excla-
nation, that does not surprise
me in the least, but these
gentlemen will now discover that
their little action will cost the city 100000
or 100000 in increased insurance rates. The
insurance people are not going to stand
risks at the present rates on property that
suffers now such lack of protection. The
rates are going to go up soon, too"
What win council do about it?" was
asked.
1--WE will probably hold a meeting Mon
day night to discuss the matter" he re-
piled, but the impeachment of the COM
mission is what will be DONE
We cannot allow such men as these to re-
main in office They have ignored evil
dence that would have damned the chief
before any less biased body, and pro-
a man to be possessed of all the
whom we know to be incapaci-
tated as the head of the department for
many reasons"
'Do you think the power is vested in
your body to impeach the commission"
was asked.
Certainly 1 do. We have every right,
and we win probably find
enough in their own voumlnous finding
to convict them of a dereliction to their
duty In not discharging the chief. We
should not have taken the course we did
We should have impeached the commits
sion as soon as we had secured the evil
dence against the chief and that which at
the same time was forthcoming against
the commissioners. 1t was a farce to allow
the matter to revert to them. l knew
what they would do"
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