The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-08-04
CHARGES AGAINST FIRE CHEF.
THE COMMISSIONS INVESTIGATION
TO BEGIN TO-WORROW.

Committee of CounciI-Incompe-
tcncy. Drunkenness. and Using the
Once of Fire Chief For Political
PURPOSES the Principal OncnSes.
The Investigation To BE Public.
The Investigation of Fire Chief Mcguire
on charges preferred by the fire commis-
sion. viii begin at O'Clock tomorrow ar
ternoon. The investigation viii be held at
the Headquarters Of the ire department.
at No. engine house. on West Broad
street. The proceedings will be public
The charges 10y the commission are oas-
ed upon the evidence before the investlga-
ting committee OF council. They We're
formulated by the fire commission al i's
monthly meeting yesterday afternoon ana
a copy was at once served upon chiel Ma
guire. who ACKNOWLEDGED service ana
stated his readiness to answer the charges
at the earliest date possible. The commits
sioners accordingly fixed the date as stat
ed
The charges to which the chief will be
required 10 answer are as follows:
Air John T. Mcguire, Fire Chief City
of savannah. You having demanded an
Investigation Of your conduct as fire chlef,
We have obtained the evidence submitted
upon the investigation of the committee OF
council, and after reviewing the same
have formulated therefrom such charges
as we think the evidence prima facie au-
thorizes us to require you to answer 70
wit
First Incompetency and inethciency as
evidenced by experience and inability IN
your management of the following fires,
TO wit
The Savannah Grocery Company fire
which occurred the Sth day of April 1885.
The A. B. Hull * Company ire winch
occurred the 23d day Of September 1880.
The Smith-DiXon fire which occurred
the 18th day of May, 1897.
The Randolph Kirkland fire, which oc-
CURED the 9th day of April 1871
The Christ church fire which occurred
the 2Sd day of May, 1897
1t being alleged that you did not man
age said fires with the skill and judg-
ment that should have been displayed
and that the destruction of said buildings
was due to your want of skill and TO the
inexperience and inability manifested by
YOU in the management of said fires.
Second. Because of gross and Wllltui
misconduct at the following fires, to VIII:
Being drunk and intoxicated while on
duty, and appearing and undertaking the
management of the A. b. Hun q co. hre
while in an intoxicated condition.
Being drunk while on duty at the time
jeremiah Murphy came to headquarters
at No. ? engine house TO request you TO
order couplings for chemical engines, and
ordering said couplings while in an III
toxcated condition.
Because while on duty at the District
Messenger fire you were in an intoxicated
condition and undertook the management
of said fire while in an intoxicated condi-
ton
1t being alleged that said gross and will
full misconduct was such as to render you
unfit to longer perform the duties OF your
high and important office.
Third, because of the following gross
and Wilful misconduct in using the office
Of fire chief TO promote the interests of
the Citizens Club, a political organization
to the detrlment of the Savannah fire de
partment. to-wit.
At the October, 1896 state and county
election, detailing c. Z. Pitts and J.. j.
Taylor TO do political work against their
WILL depicting the force at their station
and leaving their station shorthanded.
At the October. 1895 state and county
election detailing Chris Christanson and
William F.. McGrath to do political work
leaving their station with depleted force
At the January. Sl97 municipal election,
detailing William II. Williams and j. W.
Grady TO do political work.
At the January. 1897 municipal election,
detailing J. +. Douglass, Mike Drury, II.
G. Bieber and Arthur Toshach TO do Pc
litical work. leaving No. engine house
with a depleted force of men.
Al the January, 1897 municipal election,
requiring J. T. Racksraw and William
II. Williams to leave their station to do
political work, and sending Rackstraw
against his viii TO guard negroes at a
dangerous precinct.
AT the october. 1886, state and county
election. undertaking 20 compel J. J.
Brown to do political work, against his
will
AT the October. 1896. state aud county
election, detailing C. r. Pitts to do po-
litical work against his viii, and forging,
or allowing his name 20 be forged. 10 an
application for a leave Of absence.
Recommending Sidney Lilleuthal TO
position on the fire department TO repay
a private personal obligation, Il being all
legged that he was not competent to I'M
the position.
Recommending the promotion Of j. Z.
Campos, for political reasons, TO foreman
ship Of No. engine company over the
head OF A. ]. Kiornau, whom. IL is alleged
was a more competent and experienced
man.
Recommending the promotion of j. F.
Srohbert, for political reasons. TO the
position Of foreman OF engine company
No. over A. J. Herman. whom. il is all
legged, Is the most competent ana expert
enced man.
Detailing j. r. strohbert to do political
work at the January. 1897, municipal
election; compelling him TO 20. against his
will. and leaving No. 4 engine house with
a depleted force Of men.
II being alleged that said gross ana will
full misconduct disqualihes you from per-
forming the duties of your high and im-
portant office
you ar. therefore bnrebt. ,U.1 g.. a.,