The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-25
THE TRIAL WAS A FARCE
CAPT. JOHN TANNING REMAINS IN
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
He l.. However, Reduced to the Ranks
and Fined Thirty Days Pay
safety Board Session.

The trial OF Captain John Tanning before
the Board of Public Safety yesterday after
noon was really the biggest burIesque that
has been perpetrated by that board for
some time. II viii be remembered that
Tanning was suspended at the Cones fac
tory FIRE By Assistant Chief Ernst, charged
with being intoxicated and talking in an
InsOlent and insulting manner 10 his su-
perior officer. Tanning was found on ton
Of an adja cent building in such a condition
that he was unable to give his services to-
ward fighting the fire.
The next day Chairman Roth called on
Tanning and ii was reported the latter told
Roth he would be on the fire department
when Roth was shoveling coal. or some
other choice reminder of his pull with
the administration. Roth. it is said. swore
to have him discharged from the DEPART
ment. as Fanning's previous record would
not bear close inspection.
At the trial yesterday the members Of the
Board Of Safety occupied seats around the
big table in the boards office and Tanning
walked in meekly and took the witness
stand. He said he would plead guilty m
the charges preferred against him and
wanted 10 throw himself on the mercy of
the board. He said the day of the Cones
fire he was sick. and the only thing he ate
during the day was a few crackers. His
stomach was out of order, he said. and he
took one drink Of whisky, which made him
dizzy. While in that condition he said
Assistant Chief Ernst found him. He ad.
mitted he had lone wrong and asked for
leniency. Assistant Chief Ernst then took
the stand and Chairman Roth asked him
to repeat the charges he had made against
Tanning, but Ems said he did not have
anything TO say. as Tanning had pleaded
guilty.
Chief Barrett went on the stand and soid
ne would recommend that Tanning be re-
duced TO the ranks and fined thirty davs,
pay MT Mcmillan started to make a
motion and had not finished his sentence.
when Chairman Roth gave him a kick
under the table and a thigh sign" to re-
main quiet. The board and Chief Barrett
seesion ~en. 10 a corner to hold a secret
SESSION as a reporter was in the room.
After a rev seconds they reached an agree
ment. The board decided to reduce Fan
nlns 10 the ranks and fine him thirty days
pay RAINING is a brother of Chairman
RAINING or the Board of Public Works.
Inc board then promoted Charles Oehl-
schlager 10 a captaincy, TO succeed Fam
ming. The latter had been favored with
that promotion before. but was reduced to
the ranks when the board made changes
IN the departmental after the recent trials.
NHdHHdn fOotn remained quiet during the
trlal or Tanning and made no allusion
whatever to the differences between them
or the additional charges that had been
made against Tanning directly after his
dismissal, but which were not included i'm
the written charges filed with the board.
chief Barrett filed recommendations with
the board for an Independent water main
TO be used exclusively by the fire DEPART
ment, to be laid in the mile square known
as the business district of the city. He
said the present system could be held in
reserve. Chief Barrett said, in his recon-
mendatiOn, that the establishing of an in
dependent fire main would relieve the pos
sibility of one of the mains bursting, prob
ably at the time of a big fire.
The board Endorsed the recommendation
of Chief Barrett to the City Council ask
ing that an ordinance be passed compell-
ing the owners OF hotels. flats and apart
ment houses to keep lights burning at
night in the and Railways. The
chief also recommended that the City
Council be asked to pass an ordinance COM
polling occupants of business houses and
other buildings TO regulate the fires at
night, as 1t would lessen the number of
fires in the city. The board took no ac-
ton on this recommendation.
The board confirmed the appointment Of
William Adams, of engine company No 8,
and Edward Rusie, of engine company
as they had served their sixty days pro-
baton and been found TO be capable fire
men. The board decided TO purchase fifty
regular fremen's badges and two hundred
firemen's cap badges. Chief Barrett nOti-
fed the board that the new fire hose re-
Gently purchased had been placed in serv-
ice.