Evening journal., 1913-09-04
FIRE FIGHTERS
WIN COMPLETE
VINDICATION
Charges Of Beer Drinking and
Laxity Against Union Com
pany Not Sustained
TWO WITNESSES KNOW
NOTHING OF SUBJECT

Nearly 300 men crowded into City
Council chamber last evening and wit
messed the failure of William M. Con-
nelly to substantiate the charges made
| BY him against the Union Fire Company
20 the effect that it was lax. lstless
and incompetent body. fire company in
name only. and also that the members
Of the company had solicited beer during
the recent campaign The charges pre-
ferred by MIR. Connolly were given a
hearing BY Council as a committee Of
the whole, and after all the testimony in
the case had been heard report was
lprepared by the law committee Of Coun-
| Gil. To be presented 70 Council at its
regular meeting this evening, stating
that the charges were groundless, Mr..
Connolly having failed 10 substantiate
any Of them
When the committee met at s o'clock
the visitors gallery Of the chamber was
filled 70 its utmost capacity. the major
ity of those present being either firemen
or friends of the firemen, and when the
verdict was reached in favor Of the
Union Fire Company, the spectators APP
plaudcd loudly.
Quite n sensation was created during
the evening when MIR Connolly, in reply
10 n question by w T. Stover. chairman
lof the committee, stated that Mayor
Howell was one Of the men whom the
officers Of the fire company had APP
Iproached to solicit and that the mayor
HAD told him personally that he was
'pained and grieyed TO think that fire
company would stoop so low"
At the commencement of the hearing
Clerk Of Council Dillon read the letter
received by him from Mr.. Connolly. in
/ which the charges were preferred. The
letter has been published Philip l.. Gar.
: rett then stepped forward and stated
that he was present to represent the fire
company in their defense against the
charges
Mr.. Dillon called the names OF th'
ten witnesses to whom he had sent {
request to be present 20 Substantial
Mr.. Connelly's charges. and only tw'
OF them responded. The witnesse
: summoned we're P. r. Walsh, philil
Green. Walter Connell, Hugh 0'Con
ner John Desmond Edward Gerras
Edward McGaughey, John Connel
!, James McKenna and David Gabrie
= The two present al the hearing wer
: John Conneil and Edward Gerra,
4 Mr.. Dni0r rrnHrketi that all ten {
2 them had been requested to atten,
o and read the communication he ser
to each of them. He declared tina
L as none of these letters had been re
: turned by the postoiiice, he believe
q all had been received
x President White then asked MI
s Connolly n he was ready to procee
p with the hearing
II am not" he replied. "the wit
4 nesses did not get subpoenas. there
4 fore they did not have to attend
viii ask Council to postpone the in
e vestigation and issue subpoenas II
{ order that the subject may be con
d Quoted in a legitimate manner
/. "The Union Fire Company is her
Y to answer the charges preferre
I against them" exclaimed Mr. Garrett
! | "and see no reason why the hearin
Y should not continue. ! will ask tina
z the investigation proceed tonight"
Mr. White then asked Mr.. Connell
1 If he had seen the witnesses himself
Z to which he replied that >he did no
{ know some of them.
How do you know what they vii
\ testify tonight" asked Mr Garrett.
: Il want them subpoenaed TO &c
: them here and see what they will
. testify replied Connolly.
3 Council has done all they could
2 get them here. remarked Presiden
:. White.
Il "They won't come unless sub
poenaed," !" Mr. Connolly replied
A long argument then ensued be
tween Mr. Connolly. Mr. Lynn. Nj
Garrett and President White as I
the advisability of continuing OF posi-
poning the investigation. Mr. Stove
finally remarked that Mr.. Connell
Continued On Second Page.