The morning news., 1897-08-27
THE FIRE CHIEFS STORY.
HE SAYS SOME HARD THINGS ABOUT
MEMBERS OF THE DEPARTMENT..

ment Before the Commission in
Which He Denies the Charges
Against Him and Reflects Severely
Upon Foreman Murphy and Also
Upon Fireman 4. j. Kiernan-The
Evidence For the Defense Con-
cIudcd Ycsterday-RebuttaI TeSti-
mOny to BE Heard From the Pros
ccutiOn Monday.
The evidence for the defense in the fire
chief investigation was concluded yester-
day afternoon, Chief Mcguire himself GO
ing on the stand and being the last witness
examined There will be a meeting of the
commissioners Monday afternoon at )
o'clock, when several witnesses will be in
| troduced by the prosecution in rebuttal.
1t is expected that Mondays meeting will
close the hearing before the commission.
1t is not likely that much time will be con-
sumed by the attorneys in summing up the
evidence, and the commissions big un-
dertakine, greatly to its relief and that of
all concerned, will be ended.
When the meeting yesterday was just on
the eve of adjournment and the time for
| holding the next was being discussed,
Chairman Grayson, of the commission, ad-
dressins Mr.. Adams. who is representing
the city At the investigation, said that he
wished it understood that the commission
was in no wise disposed TO delay the con-
c!usion of the hearing and would like to
have it finished as early as possible. Mr..
Adams replied that he fully appreciated
that, and knew that the commission had
not evinced any desire to lengthen the pro-
! ceedings.
The opening yesterday was somewhat
dull, but before the close some decidedly
sensational features developed. These
features were contained in the statement
of Chief Mcguire, who did not mince mat
ters at all in making a sweeping denial
of the charges ana in expressing his opin-
ion of witnesses and their motives in tes-
ufying against him.
The major portion of the testimony pre-
ceding that OF the chief was similar. in
many respects to that previously given,
| the witnesses invariably stating that they
had not been given a day off on account
| of the last municipal election TO work for
! the Citizens Club; that they had no knowl-
| edge Of the chief having been drunk at
the times specified in the charges, and
that they had seen no evidence of mis-
| chief
The first witness called was Acting Clerk
| ]. W. Grady of the fire department, who
| stated that, though he had gotten off on
the day of the election, his doing so had
| been of his own free will and accord, and
| that he had not been In any way intiu-
enced by the chief. Maps, showing the
buildings consumed or damaged by the
big fires mentioned in the charges, as
illustrations of Chief Maguire's in
| capacity, had been prepared, and
that of the Savannah Grocery
Companys building with the loca-
| ton of the incipient fire indicated, was
produced by Mr.. Lawrence and spread
before Mr. Grady. The latter was asked
to tell of his experience al this fire, which
| he did, stating that there was no evidence
| to his mind of a lack of intelligent man
| agement. He was asked if he had seen
| the chief at the Hull fire and replied that
/ he had and that Chief Mcguire was not
| drunk The further statement that he
/ had driven the chefs buggy for some time
! and had never seen him drunk was made
/ Mr.. Grady stated that the rice mill fire
had been so hot that to stand between the
mill and the granary would have been i'm
/ possible.
Engineer b. B. Mingledorff of company
/ No. 5 also gave testimony on the rice mill
fire, and spoke of the heat having been so
! intense as to scorCh his c.othing and
blister his hand, which he held up to
shield his face
Mr.. Theodore Basch stated that he had
seen Chief Mcguire at the Huh fire and
/ judged him to be perfectly sober.
Ex-Fireman J. J. Morris, Jr. was called.
| His testimony. elected by questions by
! Mr.. Lawrence, was that he had been off
| duty the day of the last election and that
| he thought he was doing right to work
| for his party. The chief he stated, had
/ 1. 90
! ing of ex-Fireman John G. Murphy, he
stated that his actions had
shown him to have been unfriendly to
/ the chief as he had said that he
would see that Maguires head went off
| The witness told of his having gone with
the chief to No. engine house at the
| time mentioned by Assistant Chief Mouro
! The evidence of Mr.. Mouro was not re-
| corded when given as he had forgotten
/ the date of the occurrence, but Morris said
| that IL was on Feb. IS. 1896. He and the
/ chief had been to a wedding together and
the chief had asked him to ride out TO No
/ engine house with him. He had done so,
and said that the chief was not drunk
/ Assistant Chief Mouro's evidence had
| been that the chief had entered the en-
/ CINE house under the infiunce of liquor.
1 that later he had been asked by the
chief If he had noticed his condition.
Morris was asked by Mr.. Adams II he
}
! accompanied the chief. He replied that
he had had two drinks at the wedding.
Noticing that his evidence was given in
rather brusque manner Mr.. Adams ask
ed If he had not also had something be-
fore coming before the commission. Morris
admitted that ne had had few beers.
Capt r. w. Shekells Of the tug Forest
| City stated that he did not believe the
chief was drunk at the Huh FIRE
=. J. Mcguire. a brother Of the chief,
stated that the latter had gotten home
| by y O'Clock on the night OF the Hull
! fire. and that he was then sober.
Fireman W. n. Williams stated that
/ ne had gotten Off on the day Of the cleo
/ ton without having been influenced at
all by the chief OF the Savannah Gro
1 cery Company fire he said that he did
not think IL vas under control when
l Foreman Murphy left the elevator shaft.
/ Tie said he had been a Citizens Club man.
/ Fireman Chris Christianson testified
! that his getting of on account Of the
election had not been az the instance OF
/ Chief MaRuirc.
Ex-Fireman ~. 6. Bleber testified along
the same lire and stated, as did Fireman