The Cairo bulletin., 1906-04-06

An unusual sensation was caused III
the city yesterday by the report that
q conspiracy 10 commit arson had
been formed between members of he
uptown fire station and a saloon
keeper named Johnson, whose place Of
business is al the corner of Twenty
iXth street and Commercial avenue.
The reports were we'll founded as
he developments proved Il appears
that as early as last Monday the mayor
was informed Of the matter, by Capt.
Jones, of the fire station, but other
pressing matters Of public concern,
the railroad project and street work
commi tee meetings made delay nece
sary Yesterday morning His Honor
called a meeting of the committee on
police, Jail and fire departments, con
sisting of Aldermen LaWler, Antrim
Scullin, .Iocelyn, Nellis and Snyder.
and laid The matter before them, sum
maAirg a4aAbegA-e ef~tha-ftre station q
give testimony. The result of The ,u-
quiry was that only one Of the men
was .ouad 70 be guilty, in the opinion
of hc committee Fireman McBeynolds
ana ho ndt promptly dismissed ON
ar minor abuses were laid bare in
the course cf the inquiries Nand il was
deemed advisable to make some
changes of men from one station 10 the
other which resulted in the resieua-
tion of Fireman Kelly ana The appoint
ment Of Clarke, who had been a sub.
stnte fireman.
The testimony seems to how that
alone was concerned with
Johnson in the conspiracy, that Fire
man Sullivan Immediately on being
told of it by McReynolds informed
Capt. Jones who in turn informed AL
lerman Lawler. chairman of the com
mittee on Police, ia | and fire depart
ments. But the committee. after hear
ing all the testimony and dismisSing
deemed il best for the
sake of better discipline, 10 order some
changes. They directed that Fireman
Kelley be transferred TO the down town
station and Fireman Jack Collins (mc
f the hest in the Department. to the
lp-,oWn station. Kelly refused to be
transferred and resigned voluntarily
md his resignation was accepted.
There is therefore one vacancy in the
Town town station owing to the trans
'er Of Collins. which will probably be
illed az next Tuesdays council meet
ng.
The testimony shows that Johnson
lad offered to pay McReynolds $25 10
lelay responding to an alarm of fire
yh ch he John ON, was lo start in his
,lace Cf business after midnight and I
.lsO tried To induce the negro police |
lfficer Bradley To ignore any eyi.
Iences Of fire he might notice. but
While McRoynolds agreed the officer
efusCd.
Johnson had $500 insurance on his /
Icusehold effects. which was cancelled I
.esterday by Agent John T. Brown |
Who held H.. He did not own the bar
.Ntures nor the hou.e.
lie Is a man of family. who came to
"A ro some years ago from the conn
~ His place Of business was Of a 4
DIV character as testified t. by the 4
Iolice officer
The testimony before the committee /
vas taken down by Mis- Bessie WI
on. stenographer and as hurriediv
by her. is as follows:
Capt Jones' Testimony
Mayor Parsons. state 10 this NJ
nittee what you know about this.
CAPT. Jones. Thomas McReynolds |
u the morning of the 22ns came %
be- ard % me- sbour this prope itioa /
nd was to get S35 from Johnson.
'wenty sixth and Commercial That /
s al ho told me about e. This man
ohnson was 20 give McRaynol3s /
25
o What was McBeyuol1- 10 - {
.h De- Sz5F
e. U- 1il rot -av.
-talrea Srrf--- Dif ~-u bear n f.
before hafe
A. Eo. sIr week a-o s-nlar.
g. The object ol him getting THIS
% va % DELAY the progress Of this
r. -e7a--c-+7
Ie d rot GsFe al- sra e---l--
Q. Did not mske any statement
hat this s25 was i5r?