The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-11-05
DRINKING f|REnth
- - -
NOT IDENTIFIED
Evidence Shows Men in Uniform
Frequented Bars at
Fair Grounds.
MAYOR COMPLAINS OF DOORS
Wants Fircmen to Flush Out
Traps at Regular
Intervals.
MAYOR COMPLAINS OF DOORS

After examining many Witnesses
last night. the board OF Ere Commas
sioners was unable to find the names
OF any oil the fremen reported TO haSI
been drinking in public saloons during
the recent state Fair. one Of the wit
nesses stating that he could not, and
would not IL he could. even though
under oatn. point out the ,nen ne saw
GrinA.Bg. ..iter two hours of ois-
cuss.on. the board adopted the follow
ing resolution offered by Commits
sioner 'Rooert Lecky:
I'VE regret that the evidence shows
that the men OF the Fire Department
did go into bsrrooms on Tuesday.
wednesday and Friday during state
Fair week. but also regret that all
efforts at identification " these men
failed absolutely
The hearing was eniivened by
sharp tiit between II. h. race. who
had been called as witness, and
President OF the Board Of Fire Com
;nissioners Charles F.. Taylor. which.
while showing much temper on the
Iart Of the witness. threw little or
no light on the subject Of the in
,auiry.
RswiasA q First witaess.
Rev. j. w. Rowland. who wrote a letter
the state Fair In which he told OF
having seen six fremen in ur form
drinking at bar on the grounds. was
the first witness. He insisted that he
was not prosecuting any fremen. ana
did not care to get any Of the men
into trouble He was positive that he
had seen six firemen drinking. as his
letter stated. but he would not be able
to identify any Of them Rev. c. T.
Forester. pastor Of Decatur street
Methodist Church, corroborated the
statement. adding that he knew most
OF the south Richmond dremen. and
had not seen any Of them drinking.
d. *. Pace, an ofhcial Of the local
typographical Union. testified that he
had seen two or three firemen drink.
Ing on different days at the fair. He
became quite heated and asserted that
he did not know the men and would
not tell il he did.
Then We will put you on oath" an
swered Chairman Taylor.
Il don't care. I wouldn't tell on these
men II I were on oath. II isn't my
business"
Wo0en Saw Dronken Flfenan.
Mrs. J. n Jobson and a large COM
mittee who had conducted q booth for
the Womans Temperance League of
America. told OF a fireman in uniform
having come to the booth while In
an intoxicated condition. She could
not describe the man. even to say
whether he had q mustache or not
Chief Joynes took the stand and ex-
planned the orders that had been given.
detailing a squad Of men on the
grounds during the State Fair. and the
directions that they were to line up
and report AZ certain hours for IN
spection. Captain Cosby. in charge of
the squad during the week. said these
. inspections had been rigidly conducted
and he had noticed no drinking or
drunkenness on the part Of his
men, He had repeatedly warned the
| men to avoid going about the bars
because Of the rules Of the depart
ment in regard to men in uniform
/ All Of the men on duty at the Fair
Grounds were lined up in the room,
! but the utter inability or unwilling
ness Of the prosecuting witnesses to
identify any Of them made 1t impos-
sible for the board to take any action.
Chairman Taylor called attention to
the rules Of the department, and stated
all meetings TO hear reports from ctti-
F. zens on the conduct OF the men.
sewers Need Flushing.
| A communication from Mayor Aims
lie called attention Of the board to
foul odors from many Of the sewers
Of the city. suggesting that hremen
be detailed to open the water plugs
at intervals and flush out the sewer
| traps There was much discussion.
some members vigorously opposing any
use Of the IRE plugs except for fires.
on the ground that repeated use worid
| wear the threads and prevent the prop
/ er use Of the plugs In time OF emer-
| sency. chief Joynes was directed to
give emergency relief. and the chair
man was Instructed to consult with
the Mayor, Superintendent Of Water
and street Cleaning Departments as
/, TO a satisfactory way Of abatin6 the
nuisance
The board accepted the resignation
Of J. r. Botto. Of Engine Company NO
?. and Of J. W. Tyree, Of Engine Com
pany No. :. and elected Joe Ptacentini
a fireman. grade B, In Engine Com
| many 2. and E. I. Simms, . grade
brennan. In Engine Company :. c. F.
J Hasher was elected . grade c fireman
| in Engine Company II. The follow1ng
$ eere elected on the eligible list: B.
/ I. Brown. John J. Grace and H. A.
! Rudd- :
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