The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-02-13
MORRIS RoSENFIELD AND ]. N.
n BEARDSLEY.
Remarkable Operations of the eros
enfield Ring"
They Buy $4s, 900 Worth Of the States
Property for Sl0,o0o
Shoddy Clothing and Belle Of
Memphis" Blankets Sent
from Rock Island or
Moline.
OUR OLD "WESTERN" FIRE EN-
CINE IN THE PENTTEN-
TIARY.
| It Is Used as Muscle Developer,
TT REQUIRES A HUNDRED MEN
TO RUN 1T.
,o~-u-- - --~ ny~z rxFySn6U
THE RowETT RUNNERS"
MORE DEVELOPMENTS EXPECTED

spot? u =.
Ansver-Yes, sir; the report is full OF
dark spots. 1t has undergone more doc |
t0ring" than any paper ever sent to Spring |
field.
Reporter-Now, you seem to be posted
about the workings of the penitentiary,
and meeting you has lightened my labcrs
no little. assure you, for which L am
very grateful indeed Now, if | am not
imposing on your good nature, | would
like 70 inquire a little further
Answer-Well, I'll tell You all | know,
freely.
Reporter-Thank you Have you any
information as to the purchase by the
present managers of the penitentiary OF
lot of condemned army clothing, shoddy
/ clothing. second handed blankets and ar
my shoes?
Answer-You bet Two cars We're
showed on the side track there one day
and their contents emptied in the lap OF
the man YOU have called honest John.
Reporter-When was this clothing re-
ceived. and where did it come from
Answer-On or about the 10Th of Sep
tember. and from the best information |
can gather it came from Rock Island or
Moline, though | have heard it intimated
that it came from large dealer in goods
of that kind in Chicago | can I say posi-
lively. At all events the goods we're pur
chased and received under suspicious cir
cumstances.
Reporter-Do you know anything about
| the purchase of these goods, Ofwhom they
were purchased, and at what price?
Answer-By information derived from
b, one of the confidents Of Mr.. Reid, am led
Ia believe that the goods were purchased
as job lot, ostensibly from some firm, but
really of this ring who purchased the S4s,-
900 worth of property for $1,000 as a
4 lob lot, as there was no invoice accom-
? panying the goods, and they were never
taken from the packages and counted, i
proceeding different from the custom OF
the institution heretofore.
, Reporter you any information a:
t TO the character OF the goods?
p Answer There was u lot Of army bl0u
=, ses, small lot of boots, a lot Of condemned
shoes. a lot of shoddy clothing to be glver
10 discharged c0nvicts, lot of grey army
: shirts. and about $50 secondhand blankets
l. from the sunken steamer Belle Mem
G phis' The blankets were so marked, a
9 all events
: Reporter-Do you believe that the man
L ner of the purchase of the goods, and tn
e prices paid, if thoroughly investigated
d would tend 70 increase the confidence @
the people in the integrity and bushes
character of the present managers of tn
n institution, who made the purchase
: Answer-No, sir; the goods were en-
.e tirely unsuited to the requirements of tn
Il institution, and the prices paid much NOR
than the goods were worth, in the opinl0
! Of my informant, and which opinion | al
ID confident the sellers and buyers, agre,
judging from their conduct during the pun
chase and delivery Of the goods
Reporter should judge from whi
you say that large portion of the bus
ness transactions of the institution undo
~ its present managers, both in buying an
selling had been done with this Rosel
] e field ring Of which you speak, and tn;
a.. the managers had taken great fancy
second-hand and condemned goods Of v
rious kinds. Have you any information
h- the purchase of any other property Of tn
nd character of this ring?
Answer-Yes; they recently purchase
,os an old. second handed. hand fire engine
Reporter-Do you know anything Of d
lot circumstances under which the purcha
his was made
Answer-They had a little fire in t
- penitentiary yard a few months ago, al
this man Rosenfeld was present. linn
no diately thereafter Dick ROwett c0mmenc
ZEN discussing the organization of fire col
pany TO be known as the Rowett Bummc
,od Edwards was to be chief engineer a
;. Reid first man at the nozzle While the
Up preliminaries for organization were bal
ice effected, the engine arrived
RepOrter-Where did this engine COZ
io from
vs. Answer-Im informed it came FRI
H. Rock Island this Rosenfeld's home. a
The it was condemned there as unfit for l
ng, several years ago.
Reporter-Do you know what was p;
- for this engine?
"o- Answer do not but it would be
Is pensive as a gift, unless it was to so
nd Junk dealer. 1t has been experiment
ow with by the new company, however |
without success Rowett and Reid, Y
know, are at logger heads, and the co
III pany is inharmOnious, and were the {
Ter CINE ever so good, they could never agl
he at a fire.
ad Reporter-Do you know of any practi
use this engine could be put to?
:. Answer-It might be used with pr
y e in a gymnasium, as a muscle develop
be- But it couldn't be used there even uni
lge the school was very large, for it takes IS
me 100 men to operate it,
is Reporter do you think will
rye the disposition Of the engine since it
the been found unavailable for fire purposes
Answer m informed that the seco
It's, hand clothing dealers of Rock Island hi
ma on hand about one hundred more of
Belle Memphis" blankets, and it is
derstood that when Rosenfeld visits
the institution again the managers will str
get trade with him-letting him have
for engine for old iron, and take the hund
blankets, paying him the difference in
linville national bank notes.
Who Reporter-You' re posted, amt you
his Answer-Well, | ought to be-thinl
on am. Anything else you want to KIN
al give me a call
'i'ii Reporter-You seem to be well pos
ere and willing, perhaps can get from
per some other facts | want to know,
ac- save me the trouble of looking up OF
parties?
Answer-As l said before, I'm at v
IN command.
one Reporter-Have you any information
fol. to Commissioner Reds having dealt
j.. with the penitentiary as an individ
oS' during his official career; if SO, pie
lg: state what you know of the nature Of s.
lite dealings2
fv Answer-My information leads me
believe that Mr. Reid, ever since his
-, pointment, has had great many busir
the transactions with that institution.
the has had several buggies and wagons ma
pts featured there and buggies and wagons
ave paired there He has considers
-. dealing in the harness shop, getting
en'' harness, repairs, etc. His horseshoe
lys; has been done there, too. His trade
lie rustic chairs has also been quite extens
och especially at times when he has beel
y, candidate for office-and has a good {
OF dealing other ways, such as beef
ear family supplies.
ing Keporter-Have you any information
hat to the condition and prices of Mr.. Re
- purchases Of the penitentiary2
ives Answer can only say that from W
I've been able to learn, it was underst