The Washington herald., 1914-01-23
FRIENDS PRAISE
Chief sullivan
Crowd Attends Public Hear
ing on Charges Of
Negligence.
HEAR SECRET TESTIMONY
Proctor's Story of Seventh Street
Fire Was Most Damaging
Evidence.
HEAR SECRET TESTIMONY

| In the presence OF more tnan :" rep
resentative business and professional meu
of Washington. Deputy Fire Chief An
drew ]. Sullivan was yesterday given a
public hearing before the District Com
| missioners in the District Building with
a view of determining whether the dep
uty chief had anything to add to the
evidence gathered by Commissioner Sid
dons in a secret investigation of the fire
at the American Five and Ten Cent
Store In Seventh street. early on Decem-
\ ber "a.
| For the first time since Commissioner
siddons started his secret investigation
of the Seventh street fire. was the tes-
timony rendered by several members OF
the department publicly revealed. For
| the first time was the charge OF negii-
gence publicly hurled at Deputy Chief
Sullivan, when Corporation Attorney
Syme, in a statement relating to the
testimony given in the star-chamoer
probe. asserted that Sullivan. having or
dered FIVE firemen into the burning store.
was responsible for their safety and
their lives.
The Commissioners at the conclusion
of the hearing declined to say whether
Yesterdays session would be resumed.
However, II was clearly evident, that
owing to the strength of the representa-
ton of Deputy Chief Sullivsn's friends
and in view Of the vigor and enthusiasm
of the speeches made in his behalf. the
Commissioners will be morally compelled
to give Sullivan an opportunity to re-
fute. IL he can, the testimony given to
Commissioner Siddons in the course Of
the inquiry.
Chief Proctor's Testimony.
The most discriminating part of this
testimony was rendered by Third Bat
TALON Chief Proctor. who, according to
the record of his testimony. stated to Mr..
Siddons that "it was criminal neglect to
put the men in that building and leave
them there" Chief Wagner, 1t was
learned at the hearing, also testified to
Commissioner Siddons that lit was not
good Judgment on the part Of Deputy
Chief Sullivan to send the five men into
|the burning building.
1t was intimated by some of the speak
ers at the hearing that IL any one was
to blame for the imprisonment of the ive
men, 1t was Chief Wagner rather than
Chief Sullivan, 1t having been stated by
witnesses, that when the chief engineer
of the fire department reached the scene
of the fire. Sullivan was ordered to the
roof Of the Strasburger shoe store. in
order to prevent the flames from spread
ing. From the moment that Chief Wag
ner appeared on the scene. 1t was as
serted by some of those who spoke in
Sullivan's behalf, until the fire was over,
Chief wagner-and not Sullivan-was In
charge of the fire.
Attorney Charles w. Darr, representing
Sullivan, in an opening statement at the
hearing, declared that no charges hav-
ing been made against Sullivan, there
was no defense for him TO make. Mr..
Darr paid a high tribute to the career
of Deputy Chief Sullivan as a fire-fighter
and pleaded that Sullivan was entitled. not
only to a fair trial, but a more than a
fair consideration of the statement said
to have been made against him. Mr..
Darr called Sullivan "a conscientius,
loyal. and honest fireman. He appealed
to fairness and justice shown by the
Commissioners shown thus far and gen.
eraly lauded the deputy chiefs career.
Enthusiastic Speeches Made.
In an elaborate statement of facts
Corporation Counsel Syme emphasized
that in the last analysis, the Commits
sioners have the final say as to the fate
OF a member of the fire department.
An enthusiastic speech was made by
Daniel w. O'Donoshue, member of the
District Bar. who said he appeared be-
fore the Commissioners as '.citizen Of
the United States and as a resident ana
property owner of the District" Fair
play was the keynote =. his speech. He