The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-07-15

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AROOtbeGE 81
ed until o'clock. The three commission
ers were present, as well as the fire chief,
the two men charged with the violation of
the rules, and Mr. Il. S. Morgan, Jr.. who
had been retained to represent them in
the proceedings The meeting was called
to order by Chairman Grayson. Chief
Mcguire read all of the letters, and then
read the charge against Foreman Murphy.
This charge specified certain language
that had been used by the foreman in re-
ferring to his chief This, in effect, was
that Foreman Murphy, at about noon on
Monday last, had addressed a number of
the men al the engine house at Abercorn
street and Oglethorpe avenue, saying
that he had been stung to the quick, and
that, after the investigation of the
fire chief now pending before the
committee of council, either he or Mr.. Ma
guire would have to go out; that the de-
partment was not big enough to hold both
of them.
Foreman Murphy was asked what plea
he desired TO make to the charge and an
swered, mot guilty"
The first witness called by the chief was
Assistant Foreman J. E. Harper of engine
company No. 3. He testified to the Ian
guage in the charge having been used by
the foreman. On being questioned Harper
stated that he had been in the fire service
for nearly year and during that time had
never seen anything to indicate that Fore
man Murphy was not thoroughly compe-
tent to discharge the duties of his position
He stated that Murphy appeared excited
while speaking.
Fireman w. f. McGraw of
No. was summoned and
substantiated what had been said by Har-
per. He testified he could not state the
condition of mind Murphy was in at the
time he made the remarks. This was
in reply to Mr.. Morgan's question as to
whether Murphy did not seem hurt about
something that had been said al the coun-
ell investigation.
Driver Arthur Rodgers of No. 3 testified
on theJsame line, and admitted that the
foreman appeared to have been bothered
about something.
Hoseman Frank S. Ward and Engineer
b.. b. Mingledorf of No. 8 gave similar
testimony. They as well as the other
witnesses, stated that since they had
known Murphy he had seemed fully able
to discharge his duties well.
The chief then read the af-
davit of Mindledorf, McGraw
and Rodgers to the language used by Muir
ply was upon the strength of these affi-
davits that the chief had brought the
charge.
Foreman Murphy was put on the stand.
He stated that he had been a member of
the department for seven years, and that
during the present administration of its
affairs he had experienced naught but the
best and most courteous treatment He
said he was profoundly grateful to both
Chief Mcguire and the commissioners for
many Eindnesses they had shown him, and
that he would always remember H. He
stated that what he had said to the men
on the occasion in question was that he
did not think he could be a faithful SER
want under Chief Mcguire TO the city, as
long as the chief held that bitter feeling
against him.
on being asked as to what he meant by
that bitter feeling he replied that he meant
the language Fireman Buckley had
ascribed 10 the chief during
the Investigation last Saturday when he
said the chief had referred to Murphy as
that "old gray-headed -- --."
Murphy said that naturally he had felt
this very deeply and had thought over #
until he was almost beside himself. lie
had gone home after reading the report In
the Morning News of the investigation
which contained Buckleys statement, and
had lain upon his bed and cried. He said
that had he met Chief Mcguire either on
Sunday or Monday, and he had admitted
the remarks, either he or the chief would
have died.
Chairman Grayson asked II he believed
the chief had made such a remark about
him. and he replied that the statement Of
J. r. Cullom, made the day after the al
legged remark was made, about a bomb be-
ing ready to explode soon. induced him to
think there was something Ia IL.
During this discussion as TO the epithet
having been used. chief Mcguire MAIN
tanned silence, volunteering no statement
as TO whether or not he had used the
words "a reference to Foreman Murphy
that were ascrlbed TO him.
The chairman asked Murphy II he could
still consistently perform mis- duties under
chief Magulre, II he should be reinstated
and received an Affirmative reply. The
chairman took occasion to say hat he
would prefer that in the cross-qucstion-
Ing 30 ailusion TO any evidence brought
out M the council Investigation be made.
This had been done hy Mr.. Morgan, he
said, but he would ask that nothing fur
Their be mentioned regarding the evidence
as the commission would probably hold
an investigation, and he ala not desire to
anticipate tho questions
The case OF Foreman Murphy rested
and the charge against Assistant Fore
man Flynn was then read by Chief Ma
gulrc.
The chief stated that II was OCCASION
ally his custom to- visit the engine
houses ate az night 20 discover n the
men we're maintaining proper watch. on
this occasion he visited the quarters az
Oelethorpe avenue and Abercorn street
and found Flynn, who was on watch duty,
asleep In a chair. lie walked close 10 him.
nslope In "A chair, lie walked close 20 him.
peered into his face, saw that he was
asleep and heard him snoring. walked into
the telephone room. touched the button,
and turned la the practice alarm OF fire.
This awoko Flynn aud all the men M
stairs the chief said
Iu answer 10 the question from Chair
man Grayson, the chief said the chairman
had never accompanied him on any OF
these expeditions
Mr. Grayson said he wanted 20 have Il
known that he DID not go about spying
on the mon as Il had been stated.
Ah.latAHi fpituan Hllhh was
called TO make his statement