Dismissed as Tipsy, Fireman Is Heard in Civil Service Plea

DISMISSED AS TIPSY, FIREMAN IS HEARD IN CIVIL SERVICE PLEA 'Drunk on Duty', Former Associates Testify at Garner's Hearing DECISION IS RESERVED Testimony by fellow firemen that he "was so drunk he had to be lifted off a fire truck" marked the hearing of George W. Garner, a city fireman of 1266 Kenwood avenue, before Civil Service Commissioner William S. Etiles [sic] yesterday. The case was the first Civil Service hearing in Camden in two years. Commissioner Stiles reserved decision. Garner was dismissed on May 4, 1934, by Mayor Stewart in his capacity of director of public safety. The charge was "continued disobedience of orders and intoxication while on duty." The defendant is married and has two children, one four years and one only three days old. Capt. James Young, Garner's superior officer at Engine Company No. 2, 619 Kaighn avenue, testified that he found Garner in a saloon with a woman on the evening of April 30 last. Ignored Orders "Garner had asked permission to go out about 7 o'clock and get coffee for the men," said Captain Young. "Two hours later he went out without permission. "Senior Captain Lawrence Newton and I went looking for him and found him in a saloon operated by Umberto DiClaudio at Sixth and Kaighn avenue. He was sitting at a table with a woman. "I asked him what he was doing and he said the woman had a toothache. "At 2.29 a. m. an alarm sounded, and when we went to take out the fire truck Garner was on the running board unconscious. We couldn't rouse him and I had to assign two men, Chester Price and Irving Bishop, to carry him off. He was too intoxicated to move." Price and Bishop corroborated the testimony of their captain, as also did James A. Creato and William Cummerford. Battalion Chief Leonard Magee, of Engine Company No. 3, testified he saw Garner after the fire and "the man was in a stupor." Looked Bad Next Day Acting Fire Chief John H. Lennox said the next morning when he saw Garner, "He looked to me as if he had had a bad night." DiClaudio, the saloon proprietor, denied that Garner had bought anything to drink, saying he sold him 12 boiled eggs to eat. Garner, on the stand, entered a general denial of the charges. He was represented by Morris Tartar. Assistant City Solicitor Lewis Lieberman showed the court a resignation signed by Garner and dated March 10.