San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-01-16
MAYOR TAKES ACTION
Frank Young and J. H.
Sullivan, With City En-
sineer, Are Suspended.
PART OF AN OLD ROW
Encounter Said to Have Re-
suited From Street De-
\ partment Imbroglio.

Following a tbree-cornered physical
Encounter at the city hall shortly after
h o'clock Tuesday morning in which
{,uch blood was spilled but little actual
amage done. City Engineer ID. ID. har-
Elgan. Frank Young, an employe in the
|ewer department and J. II. Sullivan a
|hecker in the engineering department
Mere suspended, pending an invesuga;
on of the affair. Announcement o.
he suspension OF the three men was
hade by George Huntress Dr., secretary
N Mayor Black. IL was first announced
|.sou, the mayors office that only Young
.,s1<Soen suspended but later the mayor
&ave instructions that the city engineer
Md Sullivan be included.
/ Tuesdays fight. was the outgrowih
IL bitter feeling which BIS existed IN
he street department for some time
'aying manifested itself in a controyer-
II between Street Commissioner VIII
lam o. Reiden and the city engineer.
! came TO a head Tuesday when the
Itreet commission transmitted let
,r 10 the city engineer informing him
In,t Frank Young had been gwen
Ihargs of the sewer department. rms
,rmerly was under the direct super
|isioo Of the city engineer. Just prior
/, ihat time the street Commissioners
|nd 50 engineer had held heated CON
IT, .tGurinS which Mr.. Harrisan in
[brn,,d the street commissioner that
[espitr the letter, Mr.. Young would moi
hike charge.
Meet in Street Department.
Shortly after II O'Clock, Mr.. Harrlgan
altered the office of the chief clerk OF
10 street department. where he found
foung sitting in n chair.
"Did you have Commissioner Relden
rife me that letter." the city engineer
said TO have aslaed Young.
Commissioner Rieden wrote the let
Ibr., Young is said to have replied.
"Rut what / want to know is did
ou have him write it," the city en-
kneer is said TO have insisted.
4 Tbereupon Young is said TO have
|.isen from his chair. squared his
|ioulders and replied, Yes ! did, don't
blu like it,
Then the fireworks started. Who
rick the first blow was doubtful but
{ddenly fists were flying and the city
is said to have been in the
tad on points when employees grabbed
Zouug and stopped the encounter. linen
foung went down stairs.
Blood Is Spilled.
In the main corridor on the trst
[oor. an eyewitness said. Young met
II. Sullivan, a man of about 30.
LIS a checker in the engineering de-
|artment. A brief conversation fol-
lived. Then by-standers say, Young
Truck the man, who threw his hands
|p to shield his face. No interference
| as at first offered by onlookers and
Bon blood was flowing freely from Sui
|van's face. Il large pool of blood was
liter mopped UP by one Of the janitors.
Although Sullivan had several painful.
Pulses. it is not thought that he was
|riously hurt. Young later left the
[ity Hall. Mr.. Harrigan showed no
|sible marks Of the encounter.
1t was stated by Mr.. Harrigan later
Bat Young had read his letter TO the
brennan in the sewer department car
|er in the morning but that they had |
|eclined 10 take orders from him, as
bring Mr.. Young that they were under |
Be direct supervision of the city engi- |
Fer.
officials at the City Hall firmly be-
|syc that an open break between the |
/ rect commissioner and city engineer |
|inuot now be avoided. Although |
Commissioner Rieden insisted Tuesday
forming that Everything is lovely and |
| at he was not eycns considering dis
|arging the city engineer, it is known
at the matter was, discussed between
| e two just short while before.
Breach Grows Wider.
Harrigan is said TO have insisted that
|iedeu get rid of certain men in the
rect department aud that money al.
/ ed TO have been contributed BY en-
/ oyes in the street department for a
mpaign fund be returned to them. In
!. G discussion which followed. Harri-
n is understood TO have told RIDDEN
nj If he went. at least two men in the
TC,ontiuued on next pakel