The Sunday globe., 1901-07-21
'aro ina Brights are winr ers.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The Complaint of Ex-FOreman
RObey.

81 would like to air grievance in
The Globe, which, while personal to
myself, is Of public interest, inasmuch
as it concerns the Fire Department,
said eX-Fireman Robey, to a Globe re.
porter last night.
"All right; The Globe is listening"
81 belonged to the Fire Department
thirteen months on probation, and was
then dropped for inefficiency and in.
competency"
Not a very brilliant record, Mr.,
Robey."
We'll l was dropped unjustly by P,
". Nicholson, the foreman of Truck
Company D. He never did like me, and
while | was in the Department never
missed an opportunity to nag me.
attended strictly to my duties, and was
well liked by everybody in the neigh
borhood. When my probationary year
was up, and when l ought to have been
examined and made permanent, ! was
not called upon, but a month after
wards discharged without investiga.
tion, although I appealed through my
attorneys to Commissioner McFar.
land"
But you we're dropped for inefi.
ciency?"
"Yes; that's easy said. That is the
word Of Nicholson Do you think
would be kept on thirteen months II
was inefficient? Now, I'll tell you the
reason I was discharged and it has
put a blight upon my character which
hurts me in trying to make an honest
living"
go ahead"
"I mentioned Nicholson's nagging at
me- The men Of the company followed
suit, after man named Davis claimed
to have been robbed Of $500 and some
papers"
"You were suspeCted?"
eyes: Nicholson put two detectives
on my track, who watched and noted
every move Of mine for two months.
Then they came and told me | was a
straight man and no thief. | did not
know even about the robbery, II 1t ever
occurred, for some time, and ! never
knew the detectives we're on my trail
until they told me themselves"
"Who were the detectives"
"Why, the regulars from headquar-
ters-McNamee and Helan. These two
men and a lady who lived with an
aunt Of my wife where I used to visit,
we're hired specially to run me down.
Both the woman and the detectives
told me so. What I want to know is
this, Has Nicholson or any other man
the right to brand me as a suspected
thief and put detectives on my
| tracks?"
"A lawyer can answer that ques-
ton"
"Well. then, I'll say no more except
| this. that Chief Dutton. whom I believe
to be a fair man, should know his men
and the way I have been treated and
| driven out Of the Department, so that
! IL some other poor fellow whom they
| do not want Is subjected to similar os.
| tracism and persecution he can save
him by an investigation. which I never
| got. Another thing I want to say, they
bring whisky into the engine-houses
/ I'm violation Of law; at least, | can
name a man who did so. He was dis
missed for the ofiense, but reinstated
at the request Of Nicholson. Do you
want his name?
mot necessary; the case is settled
"All | ask is n chance to vindieate
my character from the unjust suspi-
cions put upon me. ! did not steal nor
take Assistant Foreman Davis money,
and what's more, / do not believe he
ever lost It, and, thinking II all over
7 am convinced II was to get rid or me
the whole thing was invented" and ex-
Fireman Robey, having relieved MS
mind, walked up Eleventh street a
much lighter man in mind and matter.
~. ~, ,.....Ll i.ioh 10 rnlirn RrInEIaI