Waterbury Democrat., 1901-08-28
FIREMEN FINED.
Failed to Answer Calls and Were Alb
 sent from Drills.


 sent from Drills.
 Mayor Kilduff presided at the ad- 10urned meeting of the board or pup lie safety last night, at which all tne members were presen. Assistant Clty Clerk Nettleton acted as clerk or the meeting in the absence of City Clerk Ryan Fireman George K. Reid and Callmen Frank J. keeley and James Rowe were present to answer to the charges preferred against them by their respective captains. Callman John NJ. Kelly, who was also sum- moned to appear before the board, was unable to be present. Chief Engineer Snagg of the fire department and Cap tains Moore, Hull and Hertman were also present.
 Before the board commenced to hear the cases of the accused firemen, a committee from the Central Labor union appeared before the board ana requested that a platoon or police De granted them as an escort for thelr grand Labor day parade, which will be held on Monday next Patrick H. Real was the spokesman for the com mittee His request was readily granted and MT Real. in behalf of the Central Labor union. heartily thanked the board for their courtesy.
 The board then proceeded to hear the cases of the firemen who were summoned to appear before the board. The first case was that of John M- Kelly of Hook and Ladder company, who was accused of not answering an alarm on August 6. MT Kelly was lot present. but Commissioner Daniel Foley answered for him. He said that Kelly was unable to be present at the hearing and that his only excuse for failing to respond to an alarm was that he did not hear it. Mayor kilduH thought it would be better. to have Kelly present at the next meeting Of the board. but Commissioner Kleinecke did not think it necessary. as his only excuse was given by Commissioner Foley.
 Frank J. Keeley of the Burton street engine house was charged with failing to answer an alarm on August 2. with being absent from quarters all night on August 1 and with missing a drill. Keeley's excuse was that he was working that night. but he expected his employer, who was away. to return at any moment. At II o'clock he lid not come back and at that time he sent a friend of his to the engine house to sleep there and to take his place for the night. His employer did not return until 12 o'clock. and he did not think it necessary to go to the en- zine house then, as he thought his friend whom he had sent was there. The next morning he heard the alarm about , o'clock, but his friend, he thought, answered it. Later he found out that his friend did not go to Ihe Burton street engine house as he prom ised, hence the charges. As to being absent from a drill, he had forgotten it. Keeley has been a callman for three years and 1t was the first alarm that he missed.
 James Bowes of Citizens No 2, was charged with failure to answer an alarm on August 6. His excuse was that he didn't hear it.
 George Reid of Citizens No 2 was also charged with the same offenSe on the same date He didn't hear the alarm. He was on duty in the house at the time- On the previous Sunday afternoon he had obtained permission from Captain HeitInan to stay at his home for a day or two, as his father was sick He didn't hear the alarm on Tuesday night. The various cap tains were asked if they had anything to say at the conclusion of each case, and they replied that they had not The captains and firemen were then dismissed.
 In reply to a question from Commis- missioner Edward Foley as to whether it was customary to prefer charges against a fireman who had obtained a leave of absence, Chief Snagg replied that it was not customary; but as to the case referred to. that of George Reid, he said that Reid had received a leave of absence for day or two; that on Tuesday morning he sent word that he would report for duty that night. but he didn't show up until Thursday night. Mir Reid claimed that his father became very sick again and that he sent word by his brother, Andrew, a mOtOrman, to Captain Heit- man. that he would be unable to be present Tuesday night. Mir Reid claims he telephoned thus to Citizens engine house and that somebody an- swered the telephone Who the per son was he did not know. At any rate Captain Heitman did not receive the report. hence the charge. The com missioners were rather surprised that Captain Heitman had not made an ex- planatiOn of the affair when he was asked if he had anything to say in re- gard to the charges Reid had said previously that he had secured a leave of absence and consequently the mem bers thought it rather peculiar that him. Chief Snagg's subsequent ex- plantation straightened matters.
 The board then voted to go into ex- ecutive session. The result of the ses- sion was that they fined each man g. and Keeley was fined g on each charge, S6 in all.