Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-04-13

patrolman Michael Barr was ar
raigned before the Board of Police
commissioners Fridaynight on charge
of neglect OF duty, preferred by Charles
Ehull, president OF the Delaware Fire
Co Commissioner Hart was absent on
account OF sickness After hearing
many witnesses and considering the
evidence, the commissioners decided
that the charge had not been sus
tanned and dismissed the case.
Commissioner Pyle read the charge
10 officer Barr. Mr.. Shull had made
Ill complaint in writing and it was to
The effect that the officer neglected his
duty last Sunday, while the Delaware
truck was responding to an alarm
Of fire from box No. Z, on Market street
between Eighth and Ninth. The allega-
tion was that when the truck passed
Eighth and Market streets Mr.. Shull
asked Officer Barr, who was at the
corner, where the fire was, to which
the officer made no reply; that after
the truck had crossed Eighth street he
tShull) turned around. and saw the
officer waving his hand in frantic
manner toward another piece of fire
apparatus, which had turned into
Eighth street from King; that the
Delaware truck should have received
the same signal, but no signal was
given it by the officer; that Shull called
Barr to account afterward for the
alleged neglect of duty, and that the
latter replied "You'd look out for your
own, wouldn't your The allegation
had been sworn to before House
Sergeant Durney. si
After the charge had been read Officer
Barr was asked whether he had, state
lnent to make. He replied in the
Affirmative and said: "That is false. ]
was standing at Eighth and Market
streets. There were four pieces OF
apparatus coming in different directions
and | saw all of them at nearly the
same time. was waving to all OF
them, that the fire was out Eighth
street. Ii was about O'Clock in the
morning, just after had gone off duty.
! stood on the corner while before
any of the apparatus got in sight, then
they all appeared to come at once. Two
of them came up Market street, but
didn't see them after they passed
Seventh. The Phoenix engine came
down Market and the Phoenix truck
came west on Eighth from King,
toward me. The Delaware truck and a
hose carriage came up Market street,
but | did not see them after they
passed Seventh until after tho truck
had passed me at Eighth.
Commissioner Pyle--"Did you see
the Delaware truck coming up Market
street before you saw the Phenix?"
Barr I'll saw the Phoenix engine
first, between Ninth and Tenth
streets. -
Pyle-"when did you SEQ the Della
ware?o
Barr--"I Judge it was between Sixth
and Seventh streets. "
Pyle-"When did you see the Pheni'
truck"
Barr--"Just as it was turning int,
Eighth street from King. There was
hose carriage back of the Delawar
truck. | think it was the Fame. Whel
/ saw the Delaware truck coming Vi
Market street stepped in front of All
mond's store, and placing myself a
an angle, beckoned down Eighth stree
toward the fire Officer Mclaughlin
had directed the Phoenix truck a
Eighth and King streets, and when
saw it coming toward Market street
looked MS if both trucks would com
together at the corner. | stepped o
the opposite side of Eighth street, o
the Institute corner, thinking the Della
ware truck would turn out Eighth. !
drove by me. up Market street, at
rapid gait. II Mr.. Shull called to M
then it was too late.
Pyle-"Did Mr.. Shull make any re
marks to you?'
Barr-"No, sir He did not say
thing. l did not hear word said.
called to them when they got t
Ainscow's, but it was too late. jus
after they had crossed Eighth stree
the Phoenix truck crossed Marke
street, followed by the Phoenix carriage
| then went to the fire. / did not tax
any particular interest in any of til
companies any more than other con
panies. The Delaware truck went
Ninth and down Shipley and after
reached Eighth and Shipley stree
Mr.. Shull, Mr.. Eakin and the tile
man seemed mad. | asked what W;
tho matter. One of them said: 70
are . pretty man. You directed !
wrong and the others right ; l mac
no answer. One said must be men
Der of the other company and again
made no answer. did say that
directed all alike and told them If the
would attend to their business wou
attend to mine and if they had al
complaint TO make to 60 to the poli'
station. Ii they called to me at Eight
and Market streets did not hear then
am willing to take my oath on witt
| have said
Chief Dolan--"Y You are on yo1
oath.''
l5arr-"Well, what | have said
correct. / thought was doing RICH
! have no hard feelings against ii
Delaware company or any other cor
pany."
At this point President Shull of Il
Delaware Co. made his statement,
the request of the commissioners.
said: 1--WE took the truck up Six
street to Market and turned up Mark
toward Eighth. We were going as ia
aSNe dare, as is natural with fire cor
panies. When we reached Seven
street | saw policeman in uniform
Eighth. He was six or eight feet o
In thestreet and was looking at us.
was standing by the driver on the fro
Of the truck and when about 10 or
ieet from the officer asked him whe
the fire was. He stood looking at !
and said nothing. We saw no comm
llon at Eighth and Market streets. a
wen Went on up Market toward the be
Mhen we were half way across Eigh
street. we could see the horses of I
rhpnix truck turning into Eigh
Street from King. The officer r
around our apparatus as we passed, a
looking toward King street appear
frantic. He was pointing for the q
tftbt nl. l.