The Washington herald., 1914-01-13
SULLIVAN CASE
Hanging fire.
Newman Says SO Far as He
Knows" Nothing VIII Be
Done by Board.
NEW PETITION STARTED
Chief Wagner Denies He Said that
Proctor Started Secret
Investigation.

The publication In The Washington
Herald yesterday of an interview with
Fire Chief Frank ]. Wagner. in which
he accused Battalion Chief Charles b
\ Proctor Of having instigated movement
4 for Chief Wagner's retirement as well as
/ for that Of Deputy Chief Sullivan, and for
Proctor's promotion to the position OF
fire chief. brought forth heated state
ments both by Wagner and Proctor.
| Battalion Chief Proctor reiterated his
! statement that he had never done any
| dirty work in order TO be promoted.
He asserted -emphaticaliy that he had
nothing whatever to do with the investi-
cation by Commissioner Siddons into the
1 circumstances surrounding the trapping
I-of five fremen In the Five and Ten-cent
Store on Seventh street December "A
last.
| Chief Wagner, on the other hand.
wanted it clearly understood that he had
not meant to imply that Proctor went TO
Commissioner Siddons. and asked that
the fire In question be probed, nor that
the battalion chief had In any other way
caused the Commissioners 'star-cham-
'ber'' investigation and the proceedings
| against Sullivan.
Nothing Is Decided.
The District Commissioners held a
three hours "star-chamber' session yes
terday afternoon. and il its close an
nounced that the purpose Of their confer
ence had been the matter Of the Q Street
Bridge.
Later Commissioner oliver p. New
man admitted. however, that the Sui
livan case had been discussed. and that
no action had been decided upon. He
added that, so far as he knew" moth
ing would be done by the Commission
In the case of the deputy chief.
Commissioner Siddons yesterday
morning received a petition signed by
several hundred firemen and citizens
requesting the Reconsideration" of the
Sullivan case.
Although it was understood that
Chief Sullivan had been given until
yesterday to voice his intention of TAX
ing a leave of absence expiring Feb
ruary ], and of resigning on that date
he was on duty all day yesterday. and
when questioned stated that he hoped
to be here many n day to come"
Battalion Chief Proctor said last night:
Il admit that ! knew of the petitions.
but did not start them. l was not after
Chief WaSners job. but consideration
was asked for me only in the event that
Chief Wagner should retire.
Chief Sullivan as well as the rest OF
the firemen have always been, and are
now, my friends. and / am their friend.
The only differences. all / have ever had.
have been with Chief Wagner. and they
nave been because he did not hold up
his end.
Does Not Want TO He Passed.
When learned OF the petition favor
ing my promotion. ] went to Chief
Wagner and asked him IL he had seen
IT, He laughingly told me that he paid
no attention to such things, and i told
him:
Look here, chief, YOU know that I'm
not after your job. Not as long as you
are on it, But ! do want to say this:
II there's any hurdling 10 be done. 4
want TO be in on il. II the man in line
gets the promotion in case Of vacancy,
that settles il. But ] don't want any
man to pass me-
Il never went after any other mans
job. and / don't want any other man
to go after mine. I have had twenty
one years record. and behind me there's
not a pen scratch against me. either III
the department or outside
c. L. Pickin, formerly a member OF the
volunteer fire department Of Alexandria.
Va, and now a resident OF Washington.
yesterday afternoon started the circula-
tion OF petition asking the Commission
ers TO reconsider the case against Su1li-
van. and to give the deputy chief a hear
ing by the trial board