The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-06-08
MUST NOT DRINK
Commissioners Will Dismiss
Men Who Get Drunk
When on Duty.

The Fire Commissioners decided, at last
nights meeting of the Board, that the
practice of the men entering saloons ana
drinking, while on duty, will not be toi-
Grated. An example was made or one OF
the men of the department, who was ac-
cused by Chief Conway with being unaer
the influence of liquor. He was nned
fifteen days pay. The guilty man IS
Fireman John f. Mccormack of Engine
Co. No. u, who, on May rs, was charged
with being drunk and unfit for duty.
The Chief swore that, on the morning
In question, he was called up on the tele-
phone and was informed that e
mack was drunk and in a condition
which made him unfit to perform fire
duty. AS soon as the message was re-
ceiyed the Chief hurried to the frehouse
and found Mccormack upstairs asleep.
On awakening Mccormack the Chief ask
ed how it was that the men in that COM
pany could get drunk and sleep it of
without being reported to Headquarters.
Receiving no answer, the Chief demanded
McCormack's badge and fire keys ana sus>
pended him from duty. Mccormack re-
fused to give up the badge and keys anu
insisted on remaining on duty. In oruer
10 aVO1u any luTtneT bouDiS w
Cormack the Chief left the house
Bartender Kennedy, who is employed II
McMahon's saloon at No. 62 Summit av-
enue. was called as a witness. kennea
said Mccormack entered the saloon while
under the influence of liquor on May 70
and started to pick a fight with one of the
customers. Kennedy aid Mccormack
drank beer in the saloon. Harry LeRos
- 49, 4 O-y- Xfncfif0 IN.
He said he had nothing against eco
mack, and had never seen him before the
day in question.
Fireman Mccormack, the accused man.
was then called to make a statement he
said, ST went into the saloon to get a CT
gar. The bartender thought he would De
fresh and he asked me whether wantea
a ten,{ fifteen or a quarter cigar l asked
himHf he thought I was a millionaire,ana
told him that a five cent cigar was good
enough for me. He said that L ought 10
smoke nothing but ten cent cigars ana
he started TO quarrel with me. walkel
out of the place in order to avoid turtheT
trouble"
Fireman Toner, of Engine Company NO
Y, was called as a witness by McCor-
mack. Toner said:-"Chief Conway came
into the engine hous and wanted TO know
why it was that the men could get drunk
without the fact being reported to mead
quarters. I told the Chief that there We're
no drunken men in the house. Ihe Chlel
then went up stairs. He came DOWN
shortly after. Mccormack soon came run
ming down the stairs. He asked every
man on the floor if they thought he was
drunk. All answered that he was not.
Mccormack was up stairs at the time the
alarm was received and was not in the
saloon as was testified by the other Wit
nesses. If he was in the saloon at the
time he would not have had time TO heip
hook up the horses to answer the alarm.
James Allen, the driver of Engine Com
pany Nos u, whose resignation was ac-
cepted during the early part of the meet
ing. was another witness called by Nc
Cormack. He corroborated the testimony
of Toner and further said
"McCormackS even went SO far as to ask
Captain Holmes whether he was drunk or
not. The Captain said at the time he was
not. / understand thai Captain Holmes
reported sick tonight so he would not
nave to appear at this trial"
This assertion riled Chief Conway. who
nroduced the charges made against Nc
COrmdcK OIL uTuIlhtilH0So. -
read TO the Board by the Chief. The
Chief also produced the record to show
that Captain Holmes had been sent to
his home by DR.. Lochner on June 3, and
has not since reported for duty.
After the recess President Erickson,
in addressing Mccormack, said:-"The
Commissioners have considered your
case and while we do not want to be
too severe on you, we want it understood
that in future any man who is brought
before the Board on similar charges will
he Immediately dismissed from the de-
The Commissioners have de-
cided TO make an example of you as a
warning to the others who AVE broken
the rules of the department. You are
fined fifteen days pay. l hope in future
the men will be more careful"
Chief Conway was highly displeased
with the verdict rendered by the Com
missioners, as he thought the weight of
evidence against Mccormack was
enough to warrant dismissal. He said it
wa not right for him to prefer charges
against the men unless they We're up
!, held. The Chief said the only way the
men could be made respect their super
ior officers was to make several dismiss
sails and then there would be better
discipline in the ranks.