Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-12-05
Fire Committee of Council In
vestigates Firemen's Trouble.
SITTING WAS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
Battle Between South Side Firemen
Fought Over in Committee Meeting
Last Nisht-William Decker Asks
for An Investigation.


stated as a fireman for the city OF OF
.tumwa, and to that end has asked for
an investigation into the cause which
resulted in his being summarily dis
charged last Sunday by Chief Schmidt
for fighting. In compliance with his
request the fire committee of the city
council held caucus last night. at
which time evidence Of those who wit
messed the affair last Saturday night
at the South Side station told of the
trouble. The caucus was secret.
Newspaper men were not allowed
within stones throw of the city hall.
Why all this, is hard to say. 1t IS
learned semi-ohicially however that
no action was taken by the committee
last night. They have secured the ey-
idence in the case, and will make @
report to the council That body will
PROBABLY first meet as d committee OF
tue whole at which time the recon-,
emeadatioas of the tre Nonlnittee wilt
be acted upon II is probable that
when the matter reaches an open
council meeting that it Will be all cut
and dried. and if person was not
aware that there was something ''on"
he would not know that there ever
had been fight between members Of
the South Side fire department
Court of Inquiry.
The "doings" last night was very
much court Of inquiry" and person
might thing case similar to Admiral
Schley's was on the tapis to watch the
proceedings for moment. Alderman
Deeds, as fireman of the fire commit
tee, presided over last nights court
He also acted as prosecuting attor
ney' Several witnesses We're exam
ined. These included Fireman John
Shockley, who was on duty when the
trouble occurred. and Charles udell
James Findley and Charles Aumach
who We're also present. and who were
playing pitch" with the tiremen wher
the battle started. George Miller. tbs
city stenographer. was present anc
made stenographic report of the
proceedings. The men were question
ed closely from all standpoints. and il
is believed that the committee has I
very complete report of the affray
This, il is understood, was substan
italy as reported in Mondays Courier
Report Not Given Out.
What report the fire committee viii
make will be hard to say just now. l
is probable that the report will not bt
made until the stenographer gets hi'
notes translated into United States.
1t is believed that the members OF tht
committee have already formed thei
opinion in the matter but this viii
not be announced until the evidence
, has all been gotten together. The mat
ter is not likely to be settled until tht
next regular meeting of the council
which will be one week from next Mon
,, day night.
I But One Side.
: 1t is understood that the investiga
:, tion last night did not include Pick
! lers side OF the trouble. 1t is als'
understood that he has not asked TO
an investigation. According to tn
ordinance which was recently passet
T. by the council, both men stand dis
charged unless they ask for an inves
tigation and get re-instated.
Put Both to Work.
There is a good sized rumor goin
around today that the committee vii
let the two men lose about two weeks
i, pay, and then make d report re-instat
ing both of them 1t is PRACTICAL
certain, it is stated, that neither ma
had any just cause for doing wha
he did. and it is believed that the mat
ter is being looked upon somewhat i
the light of ''school-boy" trio
more than anything else.