The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-18
THREE HEADS IN THE BASKET.
FIRE COMMISSION USED HEAVY
AK YESTERDAY.

sfStnnt Foreman Cornelius Flynn
of Chemical Company No. 1 and
Fireman John {. Henderson Dis
charged - The Accused Firemrn
Not Allowed TO He Represented by
Counsel Fireman KierDan Rein
stated No Charges Preferred
Against Foreman Connolly Yester-
day.
Foreman Jeremiah Murphy Of chemical
company No. l of the Savannah fire de-
partnent has been discharged. So has
Assistant Foreman Flynn of the same
company Fireman John c. Henderson has
been discharged also.
Assistant Foreman Herman of truck
company No. l has been reinstated, losing
his pay for the two months that he has
been under suspension. Fireman Frank
Ward who has been under suspension for
thirty days, was continued under suspen-
sion until Oct. !, when he will be again
placed on duty, pending his good behavior.
No charges have as yet been preferred
against Foreman J. b. Connolly Of en-
CINE company No. ], though there is good
reason to believe that they will be at an
early date.
This is the result of the meeting of the
fire commission yesterday afternoon. The
commission was in session until
$50 o'clock When the com
mission began its session al 5 o clock Col.
A. R. Lawton was on hand, representing
Kiernan and Henderson, and George w.
Beckett, Esq. representing Murphy, Flynn
and Connolly, it being understood that
charges had been preferred against Con-
molly also.
Col. Lawton and Mr.. Beckett were
given a hearing by the commission, and
urged their right to be present and repre-
sent their clients. The commission, after
considering the matter in caucus, report
ed that they could not allow the firemen
against whom charges had been preferred
10 be represented by counsel. The COM
mission then began the investigation of
the charges against the accused firemen
in secret session. The result has already
been announced.
1t was very difficult to secure informa-
ton last night of the action of the meet
ing. Chief Mcguire was found at his
house at midnight after a long search.
He stated that the five men named had
been on trial before the commission on
various charges and that a sealed verdict
had been reached by the commission
which would not be opened until this
morning. This was unsatisfactory to say
the least. Commissioner r. s. Nell was
found, and stated that Murphy, Flynn
and Henderson had been discharged, but
would give no further information. As
last resort Chairman Grayson was called
HI 7
at late hour gaze brief outline Of the
work of the commission at it's meeting.
The charges against Foreman Murphy,
Chairman Grayson said, were based upon
acts committed by him since the recent
investigation, one of the chief counts
against him being the card published by
him i'm the Morning News of a recent date
in answer to charges made against him by
Chief Mcguire in the latters statement
before the recent investigation, in which
the chief charged him, Murphy, with hav-
ing purposely given transformation to
him, the chief, during the Savannah Gro
Gerry Company fire in order TO mslead him
as 10 the true state of affairs and to in
Jure his reputation as a fireman. These
charges were Indignantly denied by Mr.
Murphy in his card published in the Morn
ing News in plain and emphatic language.
After the publication of that card"
said Mr.. Grayson, 1.-The fire department
was no longer big enough to hold both
Chief Mcguire and Mr.. Murphy"
Mr.. Murphy was also charged with neg
iect of duty in falling to respond at once
with the chemical engine when notified by
telephone that smoke was issuing from
Broughton Brothers building. Instead of
doing SO he sent Assistant Foreman Flynn
on his bicycle to investigate. There were
other charges against Mr.. Murphy, Mr..
Grayson said, but he declined TO give fur
Their particulars.
In all the cases before the meeting"
said Chairman Grayson, with the excep-
ton of those against Fireman Flynn, the
charges had no connection whatever with
the recent Investigations conducted by
the committee of council and the fire COM
mission. Flynn was not discharged for
testifying before the investigating COM
mittee, but for testifying untruthfully. 1t
Will be remembered that he testified on
one occasion when before the fire com
mission that l asked him what his poll
tics were. There were five others pres
ent, including myself all of whom stated
that no such conversation occurred. This
was the main reason for Mr.. Flynns dis
charge.
Fireman Henderson was charged with
speaking disrespectfully to his superior
officer over the telephone, because he SEEM
ed possessed of a spirit of characterization
and because he is subject 20 alcoholism. y"
tiremen who was suspended by Chief Ma
guire over two months ago because of his
refusal to comply with the demand of
Chief Mcguire for letter which he had
in his possession from the former health
officer DR.. w. f. Drummer
Fireman Frank Ward, who was charg-
ed with being under the influence of liq-
uor. had already been suspended thirty
days" said Mr. Grayson. His suspen-
sion was continued until Oct. l. when he
viii go on duty again with the distinct
understanding that If the offense is repeat
ed he will be discharged"
These are only a few of the charges
which were preferred against the men
named" said Mr. Grayson. There were
other charges which it is not necessary to
mention. Fireman Herman, who has
been under suspension for some time. was
reinstated. The board concluded that he
was technically guilty Of the charge
against him of leaving his duties without
the permission of the chief and. in fact.
Mr.. kiernan admitted that he had eudeav-
ofed 10 find the chief. and, being unable
TO do So had left his duties anyway TO
90 before the investigating committee of
council"
Mr.. Herman eta ted l.. , rFo.-s..-