Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1872-02-09


Incompatible republican city aduninishs-
tion does business, We might refer to the
case OF Jim Bell, arrested here a week or
so ago. he 10 Q notorious criminals
professional thief and bawd-and charges
are standing against him at Davenport
which would give him very serious trouble,
to say the least. When he was arrested
here, Simonson released him on bail TO the
amount Of $25, which sum jim deposited.
II was well known that be would not ap-
pear at the appointed preliminary exsmins
ton, but would prefer to forfeit his money.
In fact, in our issue Of that date, we made
such prediction. Simonson was quite
certain, also, that be would never see Jim
again. And yet he accepted this despe-
RADIOS deposit of s25, and allowed
him to travel off scot free
And on the day set for an examination, nc
Jim Bell put in an appearance. Are we to
allow thieves to purchase immunity from
Punishment Are we to license crime
Are We TO release professional thieves on
bail, we would gentlemen who had I'm
Willingly gotten themselves into trouble
Are the profits of police court to be
allowed to defeat the ends OF justice ? Are
our magistrates to wink at knSvery, al
treat villains with good nAtured indulgencei
Are we to make pundering safe and profit
able so long as man has plenty of green
backs in his pocket? Is msrsuding to b.
made q subject of levity and are cut-throat,
to be dealt with in spirit of mildness auC
liberation. These are all questions which
we should seriously ask ourselves. Tn,
interests Of society are a. stake, as well al
the safety Of our lives aud property.
At the time he released Bell, Simonsor
knew tina, that deprAved wretch had jus
established at Colona a sink Of infAmy--on,
of those dens the doors of which "leA,
down TO the gates of HelI''-s loA,hsom
resort where vile beings lie 10 wait to re-
men Of honor, fortune, health, and lite
Simonson knew all this, and knew that th
place referred to was fAs. attaining an On
enviAble notoriety that it was beconin
the headquarters Of ell the thieves su
abandoned characters of this whole region
thar it was an eye sore TO the people c
Colona, aud q sanding menace to thei
public peace and order. And yet be re
leased jim Bell 10 consideration of th
muui6cent sam of $25, and allowed cir
to return TO the q 1Eagement Of his iafsu
o1s affair.
His duty was plain. lie should hav
committed Bell to jail, aud after hsvin
examined him and sentenced him for lal
ceny, shoald have assisted the police c
Davenport in getting hands on the scoOr
drel. he is ever arrested by the Daver
pors authorities, be is certain to go to th
Iowa pepi,enEAry. He knows that, an
Simonsou knew it at the time he was per
misted to escape. What are we to think c
3 police Magistrate who will act as Simon
son has done, in view Of ell the facts thei
10 his posssssi1n2 We will not accuse min
Of having taken any secret brides. We d.
not believe be would do scythibg oF th
kind. But we do charge him with beiuJ
an inconsiderAte young man, and utterl
incompetent for the office be holds. Thi
affair is bu! repetition Of many other
that have occurred a, the police court dur
ing the past year. A police msgistrst
should be a man of years and sound judg
ment, and not hair Drained youth jus
emAncipsIed from bis law books, with hi
brains clcgged up wish mass Of indigestet
Ctii,v and Blackstone.
10 all these incidents Of incom potency il
Office, it should be borne in mind that tn
shoIe burden falls on the imbecile city Ed
ministrstion the organ" IS trying 10 pal
into responsibility.