The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-03-12

Deere & Co. whose name has been upon
the black list over year, and been pub
lished in the papers several times, after
an interval of few weeks is again neg
leeting his family and lying beastly drunk
in the saloons. Saturday noon, when his
wife brought his dinner down for him he
was not at the shop, but after consider
able search she found him at the Western
House saloon drunk as fool, and could
do nothiug with him. This had occurred
50 often that. in her despair the poor
woman came torMagistrate Swander to
find out if anything could be done about
the matter, where our reporter met her.
She seemed to feel deeply the neglect of
her husband and almost despaired of be-
ing able to reclaim him. Why are such
libels on mankind allowed to run at large2
When u man gets so besotted and lost to
all sense of shame or regard for his family,
who are dependent upon his daily labor for
susteuaDce, as to leave his work, which
seems to be SO pressing that his dinner
must needs be brought to him, and spend
his time aud money guzzling whiskey until
his wife, unable to persuade him. appeals
to the authorities for help, he ought to be
placed in straight jacket. Wouldn't it
| be good idea for the authorities to see
| that their commands were obeyed?
B9@ Another boarding house thief was
before Magistrate Swander this morning
| The facts in the case are as follows: Sun
day morning about 8 a. H.. tramp by the
name of John Burke, was. admitted into the
Gault House office, by John Downey, "a
young man who works there and sleeps in
the office. 1t was shown this morning that
| Downey had been around the saloons
| drinking with Burke on Saturday night,
and had been so favorably impressed with
him that he presented him with a coat and
shirt; but this was not enough for Burke,
SO he left before it was light Sunday morn
| ing, and took hat belonging to Downey,
and an oyercoat belonging to Louis Ha2den
and went to Davenport. Downey missed
the coat and hat in the morning and follow
ed Burk over the river, had him arrested,
| found the things with him and brought
them back. This morning Marshal w ellis,
being informed of the matter, went to Day-
export and had the police scare him out Of
town, and as he left the bridge on the Hi
nois side. gobbled and brought him to Mo
| line. He pr0feSsed his Innocence of any
intent to steal; said it was all mistake;
that he thought he was taking the coat
which was given him; and managed to
force few tears. The court said that a
strict construction of the law would compel
him to bind the prisoner oyer, but taking
into consideration the value of the goods
stolen, which was almost nothing, and the
expense it would be to the county he would
discharge him. He thanked Magistrate
Swauder for his kindness and skipped, ev-
ideptly feeling that he had a narrow escape
A dirtier. more forbiddipg looking custom
er has seldom appeared before our police
court and how any Que with any sort OF
knowledge of physiognomy could be im,
pressed with a story from such vagabond
is mystery, Magistrate Swander, how
ever, knowing how the rule has been witt
our county court thought it best to antici
ate the acton of Guyer, hence the dis
charge of Burke.