The record-union., 1898-09-30
FIREMAN BEING OVERHAULED
WAS ENGINE DRIVER MADIGAN
DRUNK?
City Trustees Hear Testimony and
Take the Matter Under
Amusement.

An adjourned meeting of the City
Board Of Trustees was held last night
for the purpose of investigating the
charges of intoxication brought by H.
A. Guthrie. Chief of the fire depart
ment, against ]. E. Madigan, driver OF
engine No. 3. There were present
President Mckay, and Trustees Brown,
Devine, Dolan, Paine and Tebbets.
Chief Guthrie testified that on
Wednesday morning, the 21st inst, he
received a telephone message from
Madigan, which, from the peculiar
sound of the voice, led him to believe
that he was drunk. He started an in
vestigation among the employees at the
Nineteenth street station and learned
that Madigan had been intoxicated the
evening before. So far as he knew,
Madigan had been intoxicated three
times before. He had seen Madigan
enter a saloon across the street on
numerous occasions.
Veterinary Surgeon D. F. Fox testi-
fled that he was called to attend a
sick horse at the Nineteenth-street sta
tion on Tuesday evening, the 10th inst,
and saw Madigan. The latter went up
stairs, and from the noise he made it
seemed as though he had fallen down.
He thought at the time the man was
intoxicated. He, however, had seen
men who could drive well with a few
'jolts'' in them
Captain j. L. Jack an engineer Of
the fire department, testified that on
the evening in question, when DR.. Fox
arrived, he went inside to get Madigan
70, 70 \, f4, a 10
make a poultice, but could not wake
him. The witness left and got his
lunch, and when he got back Madigan
was up. On the evening in question
Madigan took about two hours to get
his supper, though the Chief had given
orders that the men should spend as
little time as possible at their meals.
In witness opinion, Madgan was un-
der the influence Of intoxicants for
about four days prior to the Dist inst
Madigan had been in the habit of
drinking considera ble-more than any
other man at the station.
Fireman William Dunn said that on
the night of the Goth Madigan was
drinking, and, he thought was not in
condition to drive the engine. On sew
eral occasions he had noticed that
Madigan had been drinking.
l.. A. Spurgeon testified that on the
evening in question he saw Madigan,
and the latter acted unsteadily, as
though he had been drinking. He re-
marked to another man that he would
hate, owing to Madigan's condition, to
see an alarm turned in. Witness said
he was driving in Madigan's place.
Hoseman Lefevre's evidence was cor
roborative of that given by the other
witnesses, and the prosecution rested.
Madigan in his own behalf testified
that on Monday evening he had a
drink before going to supper. After
supper he talked with neighbor for
an hour and a half. Tuesday evening
he had met some friends and took two
or three drinks. He afterwards assist
ed DR.. Fox in attending to the sick
horse. He went up stairs to get a
sack, tripped on the top step and fell
to his knees He said he had taken
three drinks and no more. He ad-
mitted that Chief Guthrie had warned
him against drinking, and that charges
had been brought against him about
TWO years ago because Of an accident.
Chief Guthrie stated that the acct
dent resulted from Madigan being
drunk
Ihere being no further evidence. the
board went into executive session. and
When the doors were opened announced
that the matter had been taken under
AMUSEMENT until the next regular
meeting