The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1869-08-06
A ROCK ISLANDER IN TROUBLE.
Scorr County JAIL,
sNAA

DAVENPORT, August 9th, 1862
EDIToRs Rock ISLAND ArGus--beue"ns
you 10 be gentlemen who are Wiling 70 90
Justice, write this, hoping you WIZ publish
il. On the oath Of one Erastus Do"hey
was not long ago arrested in this c''y' anu
taken before police magistrate, Nhefe
found charge filed agains. me OF hoss
atrocious character. There was mass Oh
falsehoods against me purpor.ng 70 nave
been sworn 10 by this Dovney. have
paper in my possession showing that all
Downey claimed against me, wai S2,OOO
not for damages, however. Bonds we're i'm.
posed upon me TO the amount Of $4,000.
ind no faul. with the magistrate. The
| Marshal and his asaistants treated me as
gentlemen should for which they have my
| thanks. But the newspapers came out
| against me with large headings, denouncing
me as swindler, making sensation over
| my arrest, and republishing Downey's lies.
| II appears that Downey must have concocted
a plan, in order TO blackmsil me, TO have me
arrested outside Of my own state, on false
representations. The lawyers were then to
get enormous bonds imposed on me, and the
press was TO be let loose upon my reputation,
in order to prejudice the public and my
| friends against me, and prevent my obtain.
ing any security. Thus, they imagined |
would be forced into compromise.
| Here follow some complaints against the
Davenport Journal which we consider I'M.
reasonable, and suppress.--EDs'
| purchased the Howard House for a..
600, and the furniture for 81 ,4jO.sO. There
WAS an membranes on the house amount
ing 70 S2,2G0, including a tax bill of 500.
| rave my note for $3.50, with q mortgage
as security, and paid 5000 in cash, making
5000 in all. sold Downey notes to the
amount Of $2,425, secured by mortgages on
and IN Illinois. He had the numbers OF
the land, and the names Of the parties for
twenty three days before he gave rue pos.
session Of the Howard House. ! never had
possession Of tho furniture. Downey gave
, me assigned possession OF 1t. | assigned
. the mortgages TO him without recourse. he
had been running the Howard House, AND
told me he did no. make enough to pay fol
l lighting it up. | rented it to Mr.. Gsult
r who is now doing good business. Thu
. exasperated Downey, and he wants thu
property back again. There being no lega
manner of getting it, he has sprung traI
y on me, and is trying to wrench it back b.
!, fright. To prevent my friends from signing
, | nv bonds, he has secured the press to IN
E huence public opinion against me. am
citizen of Black Hawk township, Roc
c Island county. | have resided there 70
y nineteen wears. ! have friends who will nc
r. desert me though am kidnapped. AS 70
a compromise of this suit, | will never max
'' one. / will gain my rights by legal means
Downey has employed four lawyers. d
70 will need four more before he wins this case
IL know my business is going to wreck, tha
nv family is unprovided for, and that l an
le losing money every day, vet IN tree Amerc
am determined to have my rights, cos
IL what it may. have not yet seen the Roc
Island Union, but understand that tht
, boasted champion of the oppressed chime
u in with its yelp against me. To my FRIEND
n have only to say that will fight out tn
- case if it cost me my all, and let those ia
. me who will. They know that | will new
finch when oppressed. Downey knows
IN cannot win except by frightening me I'M
&. submission. He could not have fairly sta
ed his case to his lawyers, or they wou
re not have taken it up. If my friends shou
10 fail me, and not assist me to my liberty,
ID will have to remain here until the next ter
!; Of court, which will cause me to lose far
~ in Iowa on which payment must be mad
Us or it will be lost. TIC my family; dear wi
in and children, have never done anythil
TO disgrace them, nor will / ever. Rsth
than that, will suffer any imprisonme'
snt and submit to any expense God bic
do them. The sheriff and assistants are g
~ temen, and treat me kindly. Editors A
h'a GUS, please publish this IN your next ISIS,
OF for justice sake, and oblige
re. Yours,
rLs L. 8. KNOTT.