The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-07-08
FIRE CHIEF UNDER FIRE.
SEVERE CHARGES BEFORE THE
INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE.

PrenderRast Undertook the Prose-
cutiOn-The Chief Charged With
Gross IntoxicatiOn ON the Night
Before the Hull Grocery Fire-1x-
Fireman Buckley and Fireman
kIernan Testify That He Used His
once for Political PurpOses-In-
stances of Alleged Incompetence
CIted-The Investigation 20 BE
Continued Tomorrow.
The Investigation of the competency or
incompetency of Fire Chief Mcguire was
begun yesterday afternoon by the inves-
tigatng committee Of council. The prob
abilities are that the investigation VIII
occupy several days. and that the evil
dence will be voluminous If that sub
mitted yesterday afternoon is an indica-
tion of what is to be expected. it viii be
both interesting and racy.
The committee began its session at 4:3O
o'clock. having been delayed by waiting
upon the opponents of the water meters
who were holding a meeting in the city
council room. previous to going before
the water commission. All the members
of the committee were present-Aldermen
Charlton, Davis, Hamilton, Guckenheimer
and Owens
Alderman Charlton announced the OBJ
sect of the meeting and stated that the
committee proceeded under a communica-
ton to council from the mayor. inclosing
q communication from a committee Of
insurance men, charging the fire chief
with Incompetence These communica-
lions were referred to the investigating
committee, with Instructions TO investi-
gate and report back to council with such
recommendations as It might see fit Both
communications were read The notice
10 all persons having information to give
touching the competency or incompetencY
of the chief. published by order of the
committee, was also read.
Does the fire chief desire to be repre-
scented either In person or by counsel?'
inquired Alderman Charlton.
There was no reply. Neither Fire Chief
Mcguire nor any member of the FIRE COM
mission was present.
Does any other interest desire to be
represented" inquired Mr.. Charlton.
'Inasmuch as / have been singled out
by the fire chief for attack in this mat
ter" said Mr.. c. F. Prendergast, with
out any foundation in truth I desire to
be represented by counsel"
Mr.. Prendergast named Mr.. G.. w.
Beckett as his attorney.
Mr.. Charlton called upon Mr.. Beckett
to proceed. Mr.. Beckett announced that
he would divide the evidence as to Mr..
Maguire's competency or incompetency
under several heads, under any of which,
however any witness could testify. These
heads are as follows:
Drunkenness.
Using office for political purposes.
1nexperience.
Conduct pretudicial to discipline.
Mismanagement of fires,
Unnecessary depletion of force.
Ex-City Detective George w. Bossell
was the first witness called. He testified
that he had seen Chief Mcguire under
the influence OF liquor Sept p last, the
night before the Hull grocery fire.
He came down Broughton street with
Frank Campos," Bossell said. 1T was
about 70 o'clock He had seen Mcguire
enter barrooms, and had seen him enter
Cottngham's bar once; had seen him do
ing political work on the occasion of the
last city election, at Bay and Drayton
streets. He described the occasion,
contest over James Brown at the Sec
ond precinct box. Mcguire said to him:
Il will give you $50 for your vote" and
pulled out a large roll of bills.
On the occasion of the Lower Rice Mill
fire, Bossell said he watched Mcguire for
some time and saw him go into a "cor-
ner shop several times. The witness
said he was Lone time a member of the
volunteer fire department. He had seen
Mcguire at fires giving Zip" but had
never seen him do any work al a fire I'M
TIL after he was elected assistant chief.
Referring to the night of Sept. o. he said
Mcguire was unsteady in his walk and
talked thicl1ly.
John Kavanaugh. another ex-city-detec-
tive. was questioned as to the night of the
Hull FIRE He said he saw Mcguire at the
corner Of Broughton and Drayton the night
before. so drunk il took two men to hold
him up. Sidney Lillenthal and Frank
Campos were with him. Mike Hanley and
james HUMPHREYS were with Kavanaugh
Mcguire. he said, went off and came back
in a hack and insisted on stopping and
getting another drink When he came out
he had 20 be picked up bodily and put in
the hack. He Kavanaugh, and Humph-
ries, followed him. The hack turned down
Habersham to South Broad street. and
Kavanaugh heard Mcguire tell Lilienthal
that he would have him in the department
Inside OF a month. Lilienthai was put In
the department inside Of that time. Kav-
anaugh said he had a conversation with
Commissioner Parish some time after
ward and told him of Magulre's condition
on the night OF Sept. % and his promise to
Liienthal He offered to give his evil
dence II commission would investigate
but Mr.. Parish said he only wanted names
for reference.
kayanaugh said he saw Mcguire al
Price and South Broad stretes Christmas
night 1894. lie was drunk then He saw him
come out OF a house there with "a party.
referring to his conversation with Mr.
Parish, kavanaugh said Mr. Parish told
him he fought Ld.ienthals appointment. but
the other commissioners were too strong
Tor him and he believed there was some
thing in kavanaugh's story. when he
last saw Mcguire on the night of Sept p
u was close TO Sept. %.
James IA. Vaughn said he remembered
the night OF Sept. p. being the night Of
Terence Bennetts wake lie saw Ma
gulrc AZ Broughton and Drayton streets
between y and o'clock on the morning
or sept. q He was pretty drunk. sidney
LAlenthal was with him. He made IA his
business 70 walk out into the street ana
look into the hack and saw that Ma
guire was IN H.
John G. Murphy said he was a member
OF the fire department up 70 Nav 3. 1895
when he was dismissed "for the best IN
teresta OF the city" by the comutssiop