The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-03-27

At a regular meeting OF the Board
Of Public Works held last night, Chas.
H. Gingles was again fired from the
office Of street superintendent He
was tried upon the charges Of wilful
disObedience Of orders. wilful neglect
of duty and ineOmpetency, found
guilty on each count and dismissed
from the employment of the city.
When the board convened at $3.50
o'clock in the afternoon there were
present Mayor Bliss, who presided,
Chairman Zslius and Mr.. Turner. OF
the board, Mr.. Gingles and his coun-
sci, w. A Blount, Jr. There were
also a large number Of interested spec
tatOrs and for this reason the session
was held in the court room.
After the reading of the minutes,
the mayor stated that the first matter
to be taken up was the charges
against Mr.. Gingles. The first speci-
ficatiOn was read, charging wilful dis
obedience of orders by not returning
10 the city during the yellow fever
epidemic as ordered.
To this specification Mr.. Blount
took exception upon the ground that
upon the. question and ordered the re-
fnstatement of Mr.. Gingles. Continue
ing he said that the charges as read
by the clerk and those furnished Mr..
Gingles did not correspond, which was
another evidence of the manner ths
board had Of doing business.
Bliss Replies.
Mayor Bliss, acting as chairman, re-
piled to the attorney by saying that
at the last meeting he (Mr. BlOunt)
had threatened the board, but no at
tention had been paid to it as he was
young attorney, but that the board
did not propose to be insulted by Mr..
BlOunt or anyone else.
An investigation of the papers show
ed that two copies OF the specifca-
tons had been served upon Mr.. Gin
giles, and that they did not correspond
although meaning the same.
when the board decides to regu-
| late me, then / will take steps TO pro-
| tect myself" said the attorney. Il
have nothing to apologize for, and the
| evidence is accommodating, for here are
two sets of charges"
The chairman then ruled upon the
exception taken by Mr.. BlOunt, say
! ing that the board contended that It
had the right to employ and dismiss
employees of that department He
ruled the charge in order.
Witness Examined.
A plea of not guilty was entered,
after which the examination Of wit
nesses was begun. City Clerk Mer-
rift was the first 10 be sworn and tes-
! titled that he sent two letters TO Mr..
| Gingles notifying him Of the action
of the board in recalling him. He
also called up Mr. Gingles over the
long distance phone, but said that the
mayor answered the phone when Mr..
Gingles finally answered.
Mayor Bliss testified to asking Mr..
| Gingles what he intended doing about
returning to Pensacola, and receiving
| the reply that he did not intend TO do
| anything.
! This concluded all the testimony
upon the first count, and the second
was taken up. This charged wilful
neglect Of duty by failing to report
/ for duty when the yellow fever had
ended. plea of not guilty was en-
/ tered by Mr.. Gingles.
Mr.. Zellus was the first witness. He
\ said that Mr.. Gingles had never re-
| ported to him for duty at any meet
ing of the board. In reply to a ques-
ton he stated that Gingles had report
4 ed TO him two days after the council
had passed a resolution ordering his
I reinstatement.
i Chas. H. Turner, who was chairman
Of the board up to a recent date, was
next examined. He said that upon
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