Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-01-25
Lieutenant Dennis Says Driv-
er Reed Grabbed Bell Rope
on Engine With One Hand
Just Before Fatal Accident
ONLY SENSATIONAL BIT
AT THE KLEIN HEARING
After 1hree-hour Session Trial
Is Little More Than One
third Over; viii BE Con-
tinued Tonight.

New light was thrown upon the kill
ing OF owen Doris by Lieut.. Harry p.
Dennis. of the fire department, last
night at the Klein hearing.
Dennis was sitting on the front seat
of the motor engine, beside Walter j.
Reed. the driver. shortly before the
crash Reed said. Have the boys stop
ringing that bell" according to Dem
mis-. AS he turned Reed told him not
to make 50 damned much noise
with the siren, asserted Dennis. Reed
then reached back and grabbed the
bell rope with his left hand, Dennis
testified. He had not ut any tint
lseen Reed under the influence of lid
uor
Dennis was questioned about the
drilling of firemen, He had no in
struction in fighting fires here be-
cause he was an experienced fireman,
having served twelve years in the
Colorado Springs department. There
was no drilling at the highlands sta
ton until Reed came there as driver
and then they practiced. However,
there was no ladder or rope drill, such
as he had had before he came mere,
he said, answering an inquiry.
Went 10 Wrong Plug, He Says.
He had been given no instruction as
to the location of fire MIGRANTS until
Chief A. c. Burtless took charge. The
new chief ordered an inspection OF
plugs and he was sent out for this
purpose, in that way learning their To-
cation.
Dennis was asked about a fire at
III East Hazeldne avenue. He drove
the machine. When the engine was
within half block of the fire, he was
told to go to the hydrant at Iron ave-
nue. and High street He found later
that there was a plug at lIazeldine
and Walter. Time was lost because OF
this, he said in effect.
A shed was Attire at that street
number. 1t was not burned down, but
practically destroyed, Dennis said.
Used Car for Social Calls?
Examination of A. j. Black and II.
C. Preston, who formerly lived ON
West Mountain road, Indicated an eff
fort to show that Chief Klein used
the little red chiefs ear when he Wis
iited the present Mrs. Klein. Mr.
Black testified he saw the car pass
his home about five times and that
he had seen Il woman in the seat with
Chief Klein Mr.. Preston said he saw
the car standing at Sixteenth street
and Mountain road fifteen times, or
more, and that ii had remained there
from ten minutes to an hour
John Venable, attorney for the pros
ecution. did not call his first witness
to the stand until $3.50 o'clock. From
then until 1890 q clock testimony was
poured into the councils ears in prae-
ltically a continuous stream. At 1880
the hearing was adjourned until 1880
O'Clock tonight. Mr. Venable expects
to finish the prosecution tonight. IT
the council sits until II o'clock Judge
Nv, C. yHeacock, counsel for thiel
Jacob Klein, will complete the defense
in two hours, he stated, but even at
that the hearing will not end before
tomorrow night.
Witnesses Are Excluded.
Nearly an hour at the opening OF
| the hearing was taken up in areu-
ments upon what evidence should be
admitted. and the question Of exclud.
ing witnesses from the room. Mayor
/ Boatright ruled that testimony pre-
dating his administration might DC
admitted. Judge Hcacock appealed 10
the council, which voted not to sus-
tain the mayor to 2. me TWO vol
ing with the mayor were Alderman VI
d. Hammond and Alderman c. G dib-
son. The mayor ruled that evidence
about fires outside the city limits
would be accepted. Or. X, l.. Hust
spoke in favor of his DECISION ana
Judge Heacock did not appeal.
MIR. Venable did not want witnesses
excluded and Judge Hcacock did. Say
81 L. Il 4 what one
WITNESS said would Influence another,
Mayor Boatright said all would be
nermitted to remain. The council
failed to sustain this ruling upon
Judge Heaeock's appeal by vote OF
to ., Aldermen Scheer, Grunsfeid'
Gilbert. Cocn. Hust and Skinner vot-
ing mo
Tells of Fire at Clark Homo.
II. c. Preston, sol North First
street. and A. j. Black, 10 West coai
avenue. testified about the fire at the
house occupied by E. a. Clark, on
North Twelfth street, last OCTOBER
/ AIR Preston. who lived at 924 Noun
tain road at the time, said he heard
the engine stop at Twelfth ana
/ Mountain road When he reached the
place. he said one fireman was pull
, ing the hose up to the house. lie saw
| chief Klein about seven minutes az
Ter he got there. The back room was
pretty badly burned and the contents
Of the rest of the house was soaked
with water. he said.
! Mr. Black also said that the en-
CINE stopped at Twelfth street ana
/ Mountain road He then lNed at
l1215 West Mountain road. He be-
ilieved from conversation he heard
among the firemen that they were
looking for the hydrant. He said the
Mug was about 100 yards from the
corner and that he showed them
where il was. He saw only one man
holding the hose when he reached the
burning house and said that he did
moi remember seeing Chief Klein.
Jerre Haggard vice president OF
the citizens bank. was asked whether
he had seen the chiefs red car at
/ George Mann's wedding He had
His car broke down and he got IN
the chiefs car on the other side OF
the corrales bridge to come nome. IL
was dark then.
H. S. Lithgow was standing IN
front of Rupees drug store when thc
engine ran into the curbing in front
nd