The San Francisco call., 1897-10-01
indignant at Appoint
mentS of the City
Trustees.
Exciting Incidents Attend a
Special Meeting to
Reorganize.
Trustee Spinney Assaulted by an
Ex-Policeman, Who Bo!dly
Defles Arrest.

tRESNO, CAL., sept. 81. Inc OIty
Trustees held special meeting tonight
and it was attended with considerable ex-
element. The purpose of the session, as
stated in THE CALL. was to reorganize the
Police and Fire departments and as the
report that the meeting was 10 be held
had spread quickly in the latter part of
the afternoon big crowd was present to
watch the proceedings. Many were men,
bers of the Volunteer Fire Department.
and mutterings were frequently heard
among them disapproving the action of
the Democratic majority.
Trustee Splnney seemed to be the prin-
cipal object of indignation, and demon
sirstion OF this was made when be was
assaulted by ex-Policeman J. +. Barrett
outside the door of the Council cham ber
immediately after the adjournment of the
board.
1t had been expected that Spinnpy,
assisted by Trustees Chittenden and Nc
Vey, his Democratic associates, would
make clean sweep of all The Republican
employees of the city, as he threatened to
90 when he Topped from the Republican
to the Democratic fold some time ago, but
for some reason or other he only dis
charged two fremen, Z. NJ. Cochran and
n. +. Tompkins, driver and nozzieman
respectively of the chemical fire engine.
He did not modest the personnel of The
police department.
Edward A. Siam and c. H. Fay were
appointed to take the places of the "fired'
firemen Siam is not 4 member Of the
regular department, and the action of the
majority in appointing him will in all
-.
volunteers are highly indignant because
the Trustees have ignored the privilege
that has been accorded them of selecting
the men for The paid positions The fire.
men declare that while they will not dis
organ za they will not act. They will not
work at fires, they Soy.
While 1t is not believed that sufficient
men will not be found 10 man the
apparatus in the event of fire. the feeling
OF the volunteers caused by the arbitrary
action OF the Trustees will result in seri-
ously impairing the efficiency of the de-
partment.
The attack by ex-Policeman Barrett on
Spinney was an exciting incident. Bar
rett was one Of the officers recently let out
by Spinney in the Trustees crusade
against Republican employees. The ex-
policeman is also a volunteer of the Fire
Department, and the selection of Siam as
driver aroused his wrath against Spinney.
The trustee was standing outside the
door of the meeting hall talking wit h
some friends a few minutes after the
board had adjourned, when Barrett came
up. He is big powerful man. and brush
ing the bystanders aside he made pass
at Splnney. The ex-poiceman was too
for md ha a
The trustee by three or four inches. Bar
Tett used very abusive language and Spin
ney tried to escape into the police head
quar- ers, where Officer r. ?. Russell, one
of his appointees from the Fifth Wari,
and mis- friend. were on duty. City Mar
shall Woy stepped up and told Barrett to
consider himself under arrest, and to ap-
pear in Justice Aus,ins court in the
morning.
At this point Policeman Russell came
to the door of the headquarters in front
of which the distur bance took place and
overheard the Marshal tell Barrett to con-
slider himself under arrest. Officer Rus
sell then directed Policeman Antoine
George, who was present, TO take Barrett
to Jail. OF course Russell had no author
ity over George and the latter made no
move to carry out the instructions.
Here Barrett thought he saw Russell
reach his hand to his hip pocket as if to
draw a pistol. The ex-policeman had
been hearing reports of statements made
by Russell that he would use q gun on
him (Barrett) ii necessary, and so when
he officer made the hip pocket movement
the retired official turned his attention
from Spinney to Russell.
"You phil that gun and I'll make you
eat it," declared Barrett, and then he
violently abused Russell. He dared the
police man to attempt to take him to iai
or even to lay a hand on him. Russell
aid not dare and did not move while the
angered man expressed his op Lion of him
in very uncom plimentary terms.
Finally bystanders interfered ard the
tumult subsided. Democratic friends
came to the rescue of Spinney and es.
corted him down to Harry Dobles saloon,
waence he was taken home in hack, ac.
companied by James A. Ward as body
guard.