Chief Clancy is Reinstated

Chief Clancy is Reinstated

Circuit Court Judge Wickham, to whom was referred the appeal in the case of Thomas A. Clancy who was suspended from the position of chief of the Milwaukee fire department, has handed down a decision exonerating him of the charges of misdemeanor in office and ordered him reinstated. Chief Clancy had been suspended pending the decision for several months following his trial before the police and fire commission here. Clancy was brought before the fire and police commission and after a trial taking the better part of three weeks was found guilty, but one vote, that of Emmanuel L. Philipp, favoring his retention. Milwaukee judges were not willing to sit in the case, so Judge Wickham was called in. Before Judge Wickham City Attorney Daniel W. Hoan protested the right of the court to sit in the case, holding that any decision contrary to that ot the fire and police commission would be an assumption of administrative duties by the court. Attorneys Bender and Green who defended Clancy, contended that the fire and police law was not in effect when Mayor Seidel appointed Sherman Brown to the board; that in reality the present board was unlawfully constituted and without power to act; and that only the original members of the board, in any event would have the power to hear any charges against Chief Clancy.

Circuit Court Judge Wickham, to whom was referred the appeal in the case of Thomas A. Clancy who was suspended from the position of chief of the Milwaukee fire department, has handed down a decision exonerating him of the charges of misdemeanor in office and ordered him reinstated. Chief Clancy had been suspended pending the decision for several months following his trial before the police and fire commission here. Clancy was brought before the fire and police commission and after a trial taking the better part of three weeks was found guilty, but one vote, that of Emmanuel L. Philipp, favoring his retention. Milwaukee judges were not willing to sit in the case, so Judge Wickham was called in. Before Judge Wickham City Attorney Daniel W. Hoan protested the right of the court to sit in the case, holding that any decision contrary to that ot the fire and police commission would be an assumption of administrative duties by the court. Attorneys Bender and Green who defended Clancy, contended that the fire and police law was not in effect when Mayor Seidel appointed Sherman Brown to the board; that in reality the present board was unlawfully constituted and without power to act; and that only the original members of the board, in any event would have the power to hear any charges against Chief Clancy.