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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 1915-08-24 Minutesw or oouNCIL, 1018 Members present, 0. Hefty, C. Y. Yil:l: ,L a. > Reath and Jr. A. Conrad. Moved by H. G. Ralston, seoonded by J. A. Conrad that CounOilmark Chairman of the meeting. Motion Oarried. Chairman Hefty announoed that the meeting is for the se of' pgntinu i mrostigation of the Fire Department, all. the 'widenoe no% haribien heard the, night. Whereupon the following witnesses were heard on behalf of dr. Keene: irs. Caeewell, Mrs. Keene, mother of the ooaPlainatt, Trank A. Keene, T. A. Oannaway, Mrs. Gannaway, Mr. McGregor; Mr. Allen, Mr. Hill, Mrs Bolenb. Hill, Mrs. Gillespie, Mrs. 9obuok, Mr. Myers, Chas. Pieroe, T. J. Overton sad fix. DISMISSAL OF POLICEMAN WILLIS; At this point Mr. Frank A Keene stated that he had information that an dt$es;Pt'. had been made to intimidate some of the witnesses when the summons were served upo n.theo; and asked that Mrs. Casewell and Mrs. Shuck be recalled. In reply to a Question by Chairman Hefty, Mrs. Casewell stated that no on. attempted to influence her,exoept the policeman w o served the summons and stated that he had told here words in effect as follows: "It seems to me that the least said will best as it looks as if they are just trying to beat the fire boys out of their jobs and: you had better be careful what you say or those lawyers will get you all twisted." "I told, him that while I regretted to go I was not afraid to tell the truth and that I would' do so". 7' Mrs. Shuck made practically the same statement. Policeman Willis was in the Council Chamber at the time and was oalledpon for a statement and stated that he did not make any remark of that kind that he knew of. Mr. Romfh asked him what he said to are. Casewell. Willis replied that he did not ream-, ber saying anything that would interfere with anything. Mr. McDonald asled Willis to tell just what he did say. Willis replied: I told one of them, I believe, I am not sure, that I thought the, least said would be best for every one onncerned. I was in a hurry and did not have much to say to any of them . I do not think I had any conversation with any of them. gr. Ralston asked what his idea was in giving this free advice. Willis: I did not think they would want to be disturbed very muoh, the ladies, I though more for the benefit of the ladies not to Interfere with the Department or Mr. Keene in any way. ar. McDonald: You did no- say anything that would induce them to testify for one side or, the other? Willis: That was not my idea. Mr. McDonald: Did you tell ber you thought this was just to get the fireu,en out of a job? EIllis: I think I did but I am not sure, though occur that way I'm not positive, being in a big hurry. ir. Conrad: Did you have any idea this Council would sit here u rlees a man were guilty of something, that his job is the only thing that would be considered, or that it is neoessary to shield anything in order to protect a man? Willis: I did not intend it that why. Mr. Roalfh: Don't you know that we just want the whole truth, we do not want "the least said" but everything there is to be said: ter. Hefty: I understood you toted to oc,e of these ladies there would probabl, be some lawyers here who would confuse them: Willis: I do :Lot remember that. ear. Hefty: Do you remember saying that "this would be the dismissal of some of the mem— bers of the Department: Willis: I would no be positive or anything like that. Hefty: What do you think our object would be to oome up here and summons these people in order to got them to tell us what they know and then you go out with the summons and tell them to say as little as possible and the least said the, better? Willis: My object was merely on the part of the laates. Hefty: We regret very much having to call thew here, but our objeot is to get at the truth of the matter and not shield anything and we can't understand your object. Willis: I did n :t adviser the what to say. Hefty: Did you advise any others besides these two people? Willis: I believe these two ladies are the only etas I talked to at all. I served some twelve or fourteen, I have the list here, they are the oily parties I had any talk with at all as.I was in a hurry. Hefty: It seem to me that it was entirely oat of your capacity .to advise these people as to what to soy. of advise them as to what they should say or should not say. 00444 ,raf1. tilt 0 sir. ou bare .instruct L'ont from snap o Ralston: If Mt. Willis was in my department I should consider that he has done something that would warrant his being separated from the payroll; in my estimation it sounds to intimidation and I move that he be reprimanded. Hefty: I think we ought to take that up later and finishwith this investigation now. Roofh: I think this man ought to be disoharged forthwith as he has practically made an admission. Moved by E. C. Ro;.:fh, seconded by H. G. P.aleton, that Polioeman lithe be dismissed from service. On roll call the vote was as follows: E. C. ltomf, "Yes"; J. A. McDonald, "Yes"; H. G. Ralston, "Yes"; 0. Hefty, "Yee"; C. F. Filer, "No"; J. A. Qttrad, not voting;i Before the motion was put Councilman Conrad stated that he was very much put out beouuse of this and was always willing if there wasa chance to give a man a bearing as it was always possible that there had been a mistake and thought it well to postpone action and thought that further investigation should be made, a,lt, ouch there was no doubt on his. part that the ladies were tea._;ing the truth; thought the Chief of Folios entitled to some; eoneidera.tion in tl.e matter although be would not oppose the ruction. Council then proceeded with the investigation, haaring the statements of Mr. Lindstrom, Mr. Riley and another statement of Aee istant Chief Morford, Mr.. Benyar and Mr. Wolf. Both sides announced that they had nothint further to offer. Chairman Hefty thee announced that if Council was ready to act a motion was in order. Councilman Raslton: I shoe) e first like to beer from, tee Fire ©ommitteeman before taking any action. Counoilman Cenral: I think the Fire Committeeman, if he has anything to say, should do so now. We have all heard the evidence and I do not think any recommendation from the Fire Committeeman should influence or be used, to influence any councilmen. Of course the Committeeman is, naturally, with hie own department, I know I think my department efficient, and, of oourse the Fire Committeeman thinks leis men are efficient. I think each of us should expresshis opinion or put the matter to vote as you think best. I am willing to express myself right now out 1 do not believe that the Chief or the Committee- man ehoula give any advloe to the Council at all. Ralston.: Perhaps you are right. Hefty: I think er. Conrad is absolutely right in the matter. I have gone into this,ae closely aH I could, although it was very unpleasant on my part and I wc;uld not care to Make any recommendations at all. Everything is before you as clearly as it is to me and I refuse to make any recornr.,endation, the evidence has been submitted and it is up to the Council. Ralston: Mr. Chairman, I are placed in a peculiarly embarrassing position in this matter. The gentlemen m:skir.c these charges are my friends, both the Keener, and on the other hane I have ueen friendly to the Department and have endeavored to eet them what they asked for when. I thought their request was half -way reasonable and since that is the case the only thing for use to do end for the other councilmen to do is to follow their beet judeen;ent. We haveheard the evidence exhaustively for two evetidngs. The speoific charges made in the Keene letter, whioh is the basis of this investigation as it was written by a reputable citizen and p,.bliehed in a widely read newspaper, and the first charge was that the firemen could not get the chemical wagon to work, and regarding that charge I make the following motion:: moved by F. G. Ralston, seconded my E. C. Roefh that the Department be exhonorated frouz the oharge that the chemical engine was net in working order. k.otion parried unanimously. Ralston: The second charge, and the gravest charge and one that if it had been sustained, to my mind would have been grounds for droppi,.E every man of the Department in disgrace, is that they did not use proper efforts to save the furniture from the houee,and the im- plied charge that ere. Keene was in the house when fireeen were on the lawn has bean explained by Mr. Keene that he did not mean the letter in that way and I am glad no charge has been brought to that effect. In view of this, although it was oontridioted to some extent, regarding the saving of the furniture, my judgement tells me the preponderance of the evidence wes oe the side of the fire department, and mad; the following motion. Moved by H. G. Ralston,,seconded by J. A. ec Donald teat of the second oharge, that the Fire Department did not make proper efforts to save the furniture, they be oompletely exhonorated. Motion carriede Ralston: There wane one vary grave implied oharge in the letter that no one cares to have brought against him - that of oorwadioe. Since no evidence of this was brought out and knowing the Department as I do I make the following motion: Moved by H. G. Ralston,, eeoonded by E. C. Romfb, that the Department be exhonorated of the implied charge of cowardice. Motion parried. Counoilman Flomfh:then stated that he oould only see that the department was at fault in failing to leave a man at the scene of the fire end thought they should be reprimanded for this failure and warn the department not to neglect this matter in the future, for in this case it was shown by the evidence that as door caught fire and only for neighbors extinguishiag it the garage would have burned and it is not the duty of the neighborhood to watch a fire that is smolderir.g and if the department has not a sufficient number of men they must call on the police department; that he did not think the policeman who was assigned remained on the job and made the following motion. Mewed by E. C. Remfb, seconded by H. G. Ralston, that the Tire Department be reprimanded fur failure to puce a man on the craund to look after thy_ fire after the department had v I. Set ion parried. Dept, Dols '.of the ?ire Department asked it it should blreederrstood" in ell oases that the Department ir, to leave a man whether the ettuatil dangerous or not, dounoilman Romth replied that this should be done if the dire is rsoldseizg, espeb as this fire sae. Moved by E. u..Romfh, seconded by H. G. Ralston that Council adjourn until Thursday, A ust Bth. Motion parried. Attest: City Clerk. Acting President City Council