The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-08-09
RIOT
Severity Of a Church Row at
Illinois City.
The Sheriff called upon to
serve papers.

Last week an item was published detail
| ing row that occurred near church in
| Illinois City, in which several residents fig
ured conspiciously. 1t appears the affair
has engenderea a good deal of bitter feel
ing, and trouble is experienced in arrest,
ing the offenders This morning. Sheriff
Ankrum received the
FOLLOWING LETTER.
in regard to the case:
Illinois City, ILL.,. Aug. &. 1851.
To Sheriff Ankrum.
DEAR SIR:-I demand in behalf of the
State that you send a deputy sheriff down
here to serve papers in riot case that
comes off here on the 9th of August at
10 a. IN. The constable here is a party
interested in the case. His boy was in the
gang, and he will not use due diligence in
the summoning of witnesses, and besides,
there are SO many prisoners, and so much
work to do that there will be need of some
one else. The pressure brought to bear by
the prisoners parents will be so very
great that justice viii not be rendered with
out some higher officer than a constable is
around here. The papers were put in the
constable's hands here on Thursday night,
to serve for Friday, at 1 p. m. He did
not serve them, but went with two other
parties, parents of the boys, and got a
continuance to August 18th, at 10 a.
M. before John Thomas, and gave bail in
the sum of $500 for all to appear on the
18th. There was no one present except
those three; no witnesses had been sum
moned or nothing done. This was done
four hours before the time fixed for trial
hac laa
country for three years, and everyone was
afraid to come out plain against them, as
they were afraid of the consequences. The
people all around here claim that Justice
will not be given. Parties are afraid to
testify against them, as they are afraid of
the consequences. One of our prominent
men here said that he was bound down so
that he was afraid to complain against
them as he knew what the effect would
be.
have asked for District Attorney Par
menter to come down ON behalf of the
state to prosecute the case. This viii be
the test case and if the state is beaten
parties living here will be compelled to
leave the place on account of the threats
made against them. Witnesses are afraid
to testify against them. To prove how
strong is the pressure brought to bear the
J
had got the wrong pig by the horn, and
that | would get into trouble myself
Threats have been make against me and
others that took any part in the case.
have evidence enough to convict if the
witnesses are not bulldozed in STAYING away
and from other means that are used here
to evade the law Messrs. Sweeney and Jack
son can give you evidence as to how they
act. Two of the boys here in the riot
are the sons Of l.. Y. Reed, ]. P. / can
prove by reliable witnesses that it has been
plotted for some time, to cane into the
city and clean me out. On the night of
July %, they entered the city on the run,
firing reyolvers, yelling. singing dirty
songs and stoning buildings and making
the night hideous with their noise, so that
parties were kept awake until 3 a. m.
People were compelled to close their doors
and windows and put out their lights. Our
peace officers here, that were in town that
night, claimed that they did not hear it,
their sons being in the rioting, of course
they2 were deaf Hoping that you win
hear my prayer and the prayer of the
people around here and send an officer to
help US, remain yours truly,
john w BISHOP.
From the above letter it would appear
that disgraceful state of affairs exist in
Illinois City, and ought not to be tolerat
ed. What the accused parties will have
to say about it when the trial occurs can only
be conjectured, but from parties living
there it is understood plea of disorderly
conduct will be entered by some of them,
in the hope of light punishment. If they
are half as bad as represented simple fine
and costs would be trif1ing with justice,
and making farce of the law. Law and
order are necessary to peace and prosper
ity. and it is high time that the remedy
was applied.
In conversation with
WILLIAM JACK SON, ESQ,
of the firm of Sweeney, Jackson & Walker
he 50 id he had not heard of this particular
case, but had had some cases in that sec
ton. He was not prepared to say that
such state of affairs existed as was out
lined in Mr.. Bishops letter, but was pre-
pared for almost anything, though he did
not know that the law was SO openly
defed.
1t is bad loca lity though, said Mr.
jackson, and a number of hard characters
have been sent to the penitentiary from
that section. 1t was there that I'll. Harris
was killed some time ago, and the notori-
Gus Joe Phillips came from there, and only
two or three years ago man was sent ap
for ten years for nearly killing a woman,
and other cases have been tried almost as
notorious. They need railroad there to
civilize them.
STATES ATTORNEY PARMENTER
was not at home, but it is known that the
case has been presented to him for consid-
Grafton; and that he has been fully informed
of the lawIess state of affairs. Whether
he has made arrangements to prosecute is
not known, but it is presumed that he
will push the case to trial and convict
the offenders if possible
TIE RIVER.
The Grand Pacific was due down to-day
but had not arrived at time of going to