El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1897-03-17
CHIEF CONNOR's SUSTAINED.
After Fair and Impartial Trial, Nc
Bride is Dismissed.

, After Fair and Impartial Trial, Nc
, Bride is Dismissed.
There was large attendance at the
fire department meeting last night
who were brought together for the
purpose of trying A. B. Mcbride, engi-
neer of the fire engine, against whom
charges had been brought by Chief
ConnOrs.
| Judge Edwards presided, Mr.. Nc
| Bride was pr ssent but was represented
by his attorney, Charley Patterson.
while Chief Connors appeared as pros
ecutOr. There were five charges
| brought against Mr.. Mcbride as fol-
! lows:
Ell PASO, Texas, March 1, 1897.
To the president and board of directors
of the Ell Paso fire department:
Gentlemen:-I beg to prefer the fol-
lowing charges against A. B. Mcbride,
engineer of Julian engine No. 1, to-wit:
First-He allowed the engine by his
negligence, to become SO much out of
repair that it was necessary to send it
to shop for repair.
Second-He disobeyed the orders of
the chief in not remaining with the en-
gine, but left it dismantled while be-
ing repaired at the shop, with no one
to look after it, for twenty-four hours
and allowed the engine to remain unfit
for use sixteen hours more than was
necessary.
Third-He assisted in putting the
engine together after it was repaired
and in doing SO negligently left out
some parts that caused some of the ma
chinery to break as soon as the engine
was operated, which caused an expense
of SO for repairs and disabled the en-
gine for twenty-four hours longer.
Fourth-On the night of February 20,
between the hours of 4:30 and 3 o'clock
q. m., he was either absent from his
post of duty or asleep.
Fifth-Insubordipa ton in failing to
deliver to the chief the key to the en-
gine locker when requested and by put
ting the city to the expense of getting
made to the same.
Respectfully submitted,
j. ]. CONNORS, Chief.
Each charge was taken up separately
and all the evidence taken was fair to
Mr.. Mcbride and the chief After all
the testimony was in voting on each
charge separately began with the fol-
lowing results:
First charge, II voted guilty and 7
not guilt.
Second charge, % not guilty, 1
guilty.
Third charge, 15 not guilty, 8 guilty.
Fourth charge. % guilty, 1 not
guilty.
Fifth charge, II guilty, not
guilty.
This vote showed that the depart
mentwas impartial in the trial as Mr.
Mcbride was found guilty on three of
the charges, first, fourth and fifth, and
not guilty on two, second and third-a
two-thiTds vote being necessary to
convict.
After five minutes recess, the de-
partmeut was called to order and Pre-
sident Edwards said he would like the
sense of the department On what dis
position should be made with Mr.. Nc
Bride. Ex-Presideut Julian moved
that Mr.. Mcbride be suspended from
the department flor thirty days from
the time first suspended by the chief,
which motion was duly seconded. Mr..
Horace Stevens moved a substitute
for Mr.. Julian's motion that Mr.. Nc
Bride be dismissed from the service
of the department. The substitute
was put to vote of the department
and carried by vote of 15 ayes,
noes, and after going through the
formality of again putting said vote
and carrying it, Mr.. Mcbride was dis
charged from the department.
The trial was long and tedious but
fair and impartial and the amount of
feeling that many expected to be en-
gendered never made its appearance,
and some of the onlookers were dis
appointed in not seeing row over
the proceedings.
Judge Edwards showed his ability as
presiding officer and the quitness of
the meeting was due to the require.
ments that the case proceed without
wrangling.