New-York tribune., 1900-09-29
FIRE CAPTAINS TRIAL BEGUN
CLIFFORD SAYS HE ACTED AS A PLAIN
CITIZEN WHEN HE WENT
TO ALBANY

The trial Of Captain James D. Clifford of Hook
and Ladder Company No. IS. president of the Fire
mems Benevolent Association. was begun yester-
day before Commissioner John J. Scannel at Fire
Headquarters There We're also present DEPUTY
Commissioner Tuly, of Brooklyn Chief Croker
Secretary Docharty Assistant Corporation Counsel
Bandy, for the Fire Department, and J. Van Vech-
ten Ocott, who appeared for the defendant.
Captain Clifford through his counsel, pleaded not
guilty. and asked for adjournment. which was
refused. He then took the stand and said he had
conformed to the provisions of General Orders No.
l Of April 25 1900, directing him to his con-
necton with all associations intended affect leg
islation for the Fire Department. He did not be-
Heve that this organization was a political one,
or political club in the meaning of the regula-
tons
Did you appear before Legislative committees
as president of the association" asked.
NO. went a citizen"
Clifford admitted that he spoke the Grand
Central Palace in March favoring the passage Of
Senator Ford's bill and condemning the system of
transfers in the Department. He said he did
draw the bill, but made some suggestions about it,
He had circulars printed and distributed after
Chief Crokers general order issued, and prom
ised to pay space rates for reading matter in
The Fireman'S Herald" He caused these things
to be published plain American citizen not as
president Of the Firemen's Benevolent Association.
If you were acting plain Mr.. Clifford. why
did you charge your expenses to Albany and else
where to the Firemen's Benevolent Associa tion?"
asked
L had expenses as citizen and also as president
of the association he answered. They were not
IN connection with Senator Fords bill Of prospec-
tive legislation"
II tind three, charges-one dated January, 1900,
the last March 1900 for S206-Which We're entered
IN your acc account as counsel fees"
And was the 5000 really paid to counsel?"
o tell h services 1% h f0 gH the
Your motive in starting this agitation was really
to foment strife among the members OF the De-
partment, it not?'
mo. did not want anybody to tell us where we
should buy uniforms. That rule was put in
force last April for the first time and I wanted II
SO amended by law that 1t could never be put in
force again"
Did you mean to imply that the Commissioner
was pecuniarily interested in the buying of the
cloth? Did you not know that there had been COM
petition for the contract?"
IT did not But thought there was something
peculiar about it,
This ended the direct examination of CAPTAIN
Clifford a witness for the prosecution and then
the trial adjourned until Thursday next at
p.
Commissioner Scannell said later: The men of
the uniformed force at liberty to have their
clothing made by any tailor they may select The
cloth is purchased by contract and the lowest bid
der gets the contract, the law requires The
men are required to wear uniform, and to get the
cloth all of the same kind IT must all come from
the same mill and must be OF the same color When
the bids were advertised and the samples had been
received, a committee of cloth merchants and
tailors was appointed to make selection