The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-12-21


at Higby's court this morning, which, as
usual, WAS an offence against tho peace aud
dignity, ETC., in the matter OF mau getting
drunk and becoming uproarious, His enc
was s., and costs $j,5O-in ali $1,000.
We are informed Of facts in case which
doe, not appear on any docket, and
which, il true, renders the city marshal
culpabIo, and which, fprO5ecuted and prov.
en- in court of Justice, would not only lose
him his present lucrative municipal Office,
but would send him to the stony embraces
Of that dunnce in which he has immured
many an unfortunate drinkcr. II seems
that, on Saturday last, man considerably
under the influence Of liquor entered the
store of DeyOe i Crnmpton, and turtiyely
took cane, some little gift books, and other
articles Of more or less value, and went
away. He had previously been in Black.
burns and done the same thing. Me.
Laughlin, the city marshal, was informed Of
the facts, furnished with description Of the
man, and, going after him, discovered him
and obtained IL restitution of the goods
Mclaughlin also demanded $40 in addition,
or he would loci, him up, The man raised
the $40 by paving his overcoat in a saloon,
and paid it to Mclaughlin to let him CO.
These are the facts, as stated to Us.
cThe man was evidently professional
thief, iuasmuch as he defaced the price
marks in the books, drunken though he was,
and the marshal let him 20 in consideration
Of $40. This is compromising with felony;
accepting bride to neglect official duty
and is punishable by law. The mans being
drunk would, moreover, under that city
ordinance which is most faithfully kept by
this model policeman, render him liable to
arrest. But no; neither for drunkenness
nor theft does Mclaughlin arrest him, be-
cause he paid him $40 to be let 60 free
There is no entry of the case on any
docket, aud no account rendered of the
money. Things are growing worse and
worse, and our radical official protection is a
mere farce, when men can rob, knock down
and get drunk with IMMUNITY, and walk in
the open air free and undisturbed, SO they
give Mclaughlin a fee or furnish the police
court with n winter great coat
The proprietres5 Of "the Freedmen's
Bureau which was pulled in connection
with the gentlemens black gentlemen Of
two or three local radical pomposos, and Of
which we made thorough expose day or
two ago, with the glazing injustice of certain
dsgraceful features Of the case before Hig'
by, went to Davenport day or two after the
trouble, and filed up again with three new
white recruits, one Of whom was u young
girl of but fourteen years Of age, Last night
policemen Mitsch and Woods, ever watchfuI
to preserve the moral atmosphere Of the city,
made another descent on this den and cap
tured the females. This morning they were
brought before Magistrate Connolly, and two
of them were fined and another, who by gen
eral contribution Of her negro friends had
received present that she would be rid Of
was sent to jail at her own request, to receive
medical attention. She said that Jim
Beardsey's darkey had promised to pay her
fine. Now let the valiant Major, who showed
such Quixotc fervor in taking his interest
ing black friends out of quod, not let the
good mans word suffer, but fulfil the prom
ise made by tho darkey and pay the errant
females fine.
The keepers and frequenters Of this negro
den were emboldened, by being discharged
by Highly. The effect Of the late arrest and
fine may serve to open the eyes of some Of
their former apoogists.