The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-02-27
ROYAL SEIBERT's TRIAL.
The Testimony as Heard by the Board
Of Public Safety


of Public Safety.
The Board of Safety heard evidence YES
terday In the case against Royal Seibert
one Of the discharged firemen. Attorney
Thomas Hanna appearing for him. The
charges against Siebert were Incidence.
carelessness, taking no interest I'm his
work. and also with making an alleged re-
mark that he didn't give - for any,
thing except pay day and the day off"
Attorney Hanna filed written motion
asking that the charges be made more
SPECIFIC and that dates of his alleged in
dolence and negligence be set out. Chair
man Roth overruled this, and said the
dates and places would be given when the
witnesses testified.
Attorney Hanna filed an answer which
viii be made part of the record setting ont
a general denial of the charges and giving
Seibert's history. including his twelve
years service In the fire department. At
torney Hanna insisted that no charge
should be considered which was dated pre-
vious to Dec. 2. 1899. claiming the rules of
the Board of Safety set out that charges
against fre.nen and policemen shall be
board held the rule would not apnlv In tb;s
case. as the trial of Seibert was a general
investigation of his efficiency
Deputy City Attorney Bell offered Sell
Derts record In the fire department, to
man Roth insisted on Investigating ali the
charges against Seibert. The record shows
that Seibert was appointed Feb. /, 1883: dis
missed for inefficiency Nov. Is, 1896: reap-
pointed Jan. IA. 1897; suspended April IS.
&
l. 1893; again reinstated in that month and
dismissed Dec. 16. 1899. Chairman Roth de-
clared, in answer to Attorney Hanna's OBJ
Jections, that the board did not intend tn
keep man who has often been dismissed
and reinstated again simply because he had
a pull.
Captain Fred Brommer, of Hose Com
pany Il. was the first witness He declared
Seibert was not industrious about the fire
house. He claimed he often had to com
plain to Chief Barrett about Seibert failing
TO do his duty. He also testified to having
heard Seibert declare he did not give a -
for anything except pay day and his day
on. Noah Nichols, stationed at the same
nrehouse, said he never noticed Seibert
being incident. but had heard him speak
about waiting for pay day.
Chief Barrett then took the stand and
told OF the complaints that had been made
to him by Captain Brommer, and the lat
ter had said that seibert growled when
given an order. Attorney Hanna asked
the witness il he didn't try to get Seibert
off the force and If he didn't have it in
for him.. Chief Barrett answered that he
had nothing against Seibert except that he
| does not do his work.
Captain Hoyle was the first witness called
| for the defense, and he testified that Sci
| bert was always busy around the firehoust
and was well liked by the other firemen
Captain Hoyle said he recommended Sci
bert's removal to another house so that
| he would not have TO make so many runs
| az he was getting old. Albert Pease, now
| on the pension roll, testified that Seiber
| was a good fireman, but he was a little
| slow. owing to his age
Sefbert was then given an opportunity
AID he said he was fifty-two years old ant
entered the ire department in lSSS. As t.
| performing his duties, he said he had don,
better work OF late months because he wa.
watched. He said he had little to do a
/ the Brightwood engine house, as his com
pany only had five six runs year. II,
| declared Captain Brommer never spoke 4
| him about his work except in an insultin,
manner, and also said Brommer files
| charges against him once. He said he be
| lieved Brommer was merely ''cat's-pa
| and was careful never TO give him ano1he
/ chance TO file charges against him. In Civ
| ing his reasons for thinking Brommer wa
a ''cat's-paw'' for Chief Barrett. Seiber
| said the first official act of the chief wa
| TO dismiss him. and he had been after hin
ever since.
| Captain Brommer was given chance L
refute the charge made against him b.
Seibert, and he said Chief Barrett ha,
I never suggested that he keep watch ol
| Seibret. John j. Valdenaire and Johl
| Reed. of Brightwood, said they had neve
/ heard anything against Seibert. Attorne
| Hanna arose TO make an argument an
| said: IF you have already got your mind
| made up, L don't care TO waste time ar
| guing." He then declared that the evi
| dence was not strong enough TO convict
| and II would be cruel TO turn Seibert on
| after seventeen years service in the de
| partment. In concluding he said:
| Don't make yourselves a laughing stoc
| by making IL look as If you are merely
| cat's-paw to turn out man that some
| body wants to get rid Of