The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-08-11
THE RIOT.
Particulars of the affair at
Illinois City.
Preparations for the trial
next Saturday.

The locality is given bad reputation by
those who are familiar with its history,
and there is reason to believe that the
present excitement and overt acts of law
lessness viii have tendency to bring the
matter into court where the judicial hear
ing will bring out both sides of the alleged
disgraceful proceedings.
The trial of the alleged rioters at ILL
uois City, which is set for Aug. 18th, prom
ises to be an event of great interest in that
section.
STATES ATTORNEY PARMENTER
has concluded to prosecute, and lawyer
from Muscatine will assist. The defend
ants are represented by Muscatine attor-
neys, and will contest every charge.
The States attornry, in conversation
with an ARGUS reporter, said that the
place has hard name in some respects,
but that there was always two sides to a
story, and so in regard to- this matter.
While 1t is true that a riot occurred still
there are many good men living in and
about Illinois City, who must not be in
cluded with the ones who are disorderly.
Mr.. ParInenter said that he would prose
cute to the best OF his ability, all lawless
ness, whether in Illinois City or elsewhere
about the county, whenever it was deemed
necessary; that he believed in rigid en-
forcement of the law, and the punishment
of all riotous characters.
MIR. OTTO GRoTJAN,
the druggist, formerly resident of Hi
nois City, was seen and Intercepted as to
the community in and about that place.
Mr. Grotian has not been a resident of the
place for sixteen years and was not pre-
pared to say anything about the present
rioters. The town had tough name
while he lived there, which was during the
time of the notorious Joe Phillips and 9TH
ers, and several were compelled to leave
on account of the desperate characters in
Testing the place. Mr., Grotjan recalls one
case. that of Mr.. Charles Baker, who, with
his wife was driven from the town by the
roughs Mrs. Baker was shot at by them
and seriously wounded. Mr.. Baker was
roughly handled, also, defending his prop
erty. He was SO much disguised at the
laxity of the law power in that section,
that he never had a good opinion of this
county after his trouble, and went to Cali
fornia to live and still resides there
LAwLEssNEss PREVAILS
at the place, unless all accounts are wrong,
and there should be a prompt application
of the law. 1t is idle to daily with the al
legged offenders, and rigid prosecution
will give general sa tisfastion.
THE ACCUSED PARTIES
tell a somewhat different story than is
charged and say that, instead of rioting as
alleged, they were simply having a good
time, and that Bishop is to blame for most
of the disturbance. They say that he has
made himself unpopular and that he i'm
AGNES he is pursued and likely to be harm
ed, whereas the only object was to plague
him.
MIR. ASA BUTMAN,
steward of the poor farm, who is well &C
quainted with all the parties, says that
there are two sides to the case, and that
while there is no excuse for the alleged
lawlessness, at the same time much is
charged that is not likely to be proven.
He has no doubt but overt acts have been
committed but thinks the accused should
not be judged altogether by hear say. Mr..
Butman says there is lawless element in
to be punished severely, and this crowd is
the cause of all the trouble He recalls a
number of occurrences of disgracefu1
nature within the last few years, but
thinks there are enough good people living
in the vicinity of the piece to over balance
the bad.
In conversation with soma other parties
familiar with many of the principal actors
in the late disturbance, it was alleged that
BISHOP is IRRITABLE
and easily worried; that he is well educa
ted, but is at times overbearing andso ego
tistical as to have the i'll will of many who
think he considers himself little better
than the rest of the inhabitants. This is
the cause of the trouble they say, and that
Bishop is unduly excited They admit
that lot of hard characters live in and
near the place, however, and had no de-
Tense to make of the riotous proceedings if
proven true.
The trial occurs Saturday, and the first
move will probably be change of venue
to some other townsbin