The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-11-05


failed absolutely. "--Resoiution
adopted by the board of fire COM
rissioners last night after hay-
ing heard the evidence Of Rev.
Mr.. Rowland. Rev. Mr.. Forester,
NJ. II. Pace and Mrs. Jobson.
From evidence produced at the In
quiry held by the fire board last night
the statement made some days ago
by Rev J. VI. Rowland, that he had
seen six iremen drinking at one OF
the bars at the State fair grounds
was borne out.
Mr.. Rowland indicated that it was
with reluctance that he appeared as
witness against any one. He stated
that he did not wish to push the mat
ter. and also said that he believed II
would be utterly impossible for him
to identify the men.
II do not care to be placed in the
attitude of either prosecuting or per-
scouting any one" said Mr.. Rowland.
| II did not go to the fair grounds to
seek men who We're drinking. l sim
ply went there to observe the conouct
of those who were conducting the
bars, and the effect the sale Of Liquor
would have upon the people. ran
, not know at that time that there was
a rule against fremen drinking
Board Wanted TO Know.
| Chairman Taylor told Mr.. Row
| land that the board was ready and
willing to punish any offender against
any OF the rules of the department
/ and the hoard WAS anxious to know
! in this instance who the offenders
| are
| Thirty firemen, those who were de-
| tailed for duty at the fair grounds on
! the day referred to by Mr., Forester.
we're in the board room. They were
| mai ehed around the roeEss so mat lie
witness might see them from every
angle, but he failed to recognize any
! one of them.
II am glad I cannot recognize any
Of them" said Mr.. Rowland. For l
have been too long trysng to get peo-
pie into work without at this late day
being instrumental in getting them
| out OF work.
/ Mr.. Lecky. one Of the commission
ers. asked Mr. Rowland, why nc wrote
r. letter to the papers in reply to an
article which had been printed after
his first communication, and criticized
the commissioners.
The article" said Mr.. Rowland
reflected upon me to some extent
and as thought it had been Inspired
bv the board or some member or II
felt that was at liberty to so reply
/ The official record of the board wa
then read MIR. Rowland, and he I'M
mediately agreed that If he had known
that the board was not responsible fol
lthe article which had been printed II
lone of the afternoon papers he woulc
not have written in the manner il
which he had.
Rev. q. T Thorton Forester fol-
lowed Rowland. He verified ths
statement made by Mr.. Rowland tina
he did see six iremen in the bar or
the second day of he fair.
wish 10 say said Mr.. Forester
that We did not go there to water
the tiremen. I have some good friend
in the department l am in this Trims
gainst my will for / do not Ike II
be placed in the attitude of prescott
ing any one. ] am sure ! 'canno
Identify any Of the men we saw
Al this point MIR Rowland said tina
the other witnesses were not presen
upon the occasion referred to. blu
that they had come to him voluntarii.
and stated that they would bear hin
been drinking at the fair,
Mr.. Pace Testifies.
NJ. r. Pace. a we'll known printer
was then called.
He said that he had seen severa
firemen drinking and that one of then
was drunk, on Wednesday, Richmons
Day
II am positive OF this satd Mr.
. Pace but | did not come here I,
identify the men. IL i saw either o
them here tonight would not iden
tify him. | am a working man my
self. and | would never do anything
to cause a working man to lose hi
Job"
How 10 you expect us to discove
the wrong-duers?" asked Presiden
Taylor. IF the witnesses do not tel
us"
You have other means of tell
ing, remarked Mr.. Pace sharply.
Mrs. JobSon's Evidence.
Mrs Jobson followed. She SAT-
that she saw man come to the boot
at which she was delivering temper
ance literature arrayed in the uni
form of fireman.
He was plainly drunk" said Mrs
! Johson. We said that he was on
4 of seven sons. ali OF whom drank
| anu mat ne HHu tnFce sCH5, Shtu y
whom he gave drinks To every day.
This happened on Friday. Mrs
Jobson could not describe the maj
nor did she think she could identff.
i him II she saw him again.
Then Chief Joyues and Captain
Cosby explained that they had charg
of the men at the grounds, The,
were instructed to keep away from
the bars and to refrain from drink
Neither had seen any of the mel
drunk.
While Mr.. Rowland had established
4 the fact of his statement, the identity
of the men remained a mystery. TheI
the resolution printed above was pre-
scented by Mr. Lecky and adopted
Before the body adjourned thre'
new men were eected---Joe Piacen
TIM, r. L. Simms and c. r. Hagner
while these were placed on the eli
| gible list: b, l.. Brown, John ]. Grace
| II. A. Rudd
| --------
| NICARAGUA PEACEFUL,
4 .-N, ,..aa.4.,. -. u %SyYrNfarsfa~ YFEl u