The Rock Island Argus., 1882-10-27
Rock ISLAND Oct. "a, 1882

Rock ISLAND Oct. "a, 1882.
Editors of the Rock Island Union.
GENTLEMEN:-A very serious charge
is being made by the enemies of Capt VIM
Morris. to the effect that among the batch
of criminal indictments presented by the
grand jury of this county, in the spring of
1871. there was one against Capt. Morris
for selling liquor without license, and that
he was convicted of the offense in the cir
cult court and paid fine and costs which
were assessed against him by Judge
Peasants Now will you do Capt. Morris
and the public the justice of explaining
this charge and of answering whether the
charge is true or false.
A PROHIBITION REPUBLICAN.
REPLY OF THE ARGUS.
In answer to the request of our cores
pondent, the ARaUs submits the following,
which is an exact copy of the original on
| file in the clerks Office, and of the record
| in the case The document. entire. speaks
with sufficient plainness, and shows the
people of Rock Island county what manner
of man the republican candidate for the
responsible position of sheriff is:
STATE OF II LIMOS.
Rock Island COUNTY.
OF the May term of the Rock Island cir
cult court, in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and seventy one.
The grand jurors chos en-. selected and
sworn in and for the county of Rock Island
aforesaid in the name and by the author
ity of the peop.e of the state of Illinois
upon their oaths present that William G.
Morris, late of the county of Rock Island
aforesaid, on the first day of April, in the
year of our Lord one thousand eight hund-
red and seventy-one, at and within the
county of Rock Island aforesaid, unlaw
fully did sell spirituous liquors. to-wit:
wine, rum, gin, brandy and whisky, by a
less quantity than one gallon, to-wit: one
pint, he, the said William G. Morris, not
then and there having legal liceIse TO
keep grocery, contrary 10 the statute In
such case made and provided and against
the peace and dignity of the same people
of the state of illinois,"
And the grand Jurors aforesaid in the
name and by the authority aforesaid upon
their oaths aforesaid do further present,
that William G. Morris, late of the county
of Rock Island aforesaid, on the 2d day of
April, A. d. 1871, at and within the county
of Rock Island aforesaid, unlawfully did
sell spirituous liquors, to-wit: wine,
rum, GIN, brandy and whisky, by less
quantity than one gallon, to-wit, one pint,
he, the said William G. Morris, not then
and there having legal license to keep
grocery, contrary to the form of the stat
ute in such case made and provided, and
against the peace and dignity of the
same people of the state of Illinois"
Following this are twenty-four counts
almost identical with No. 2. except each
charging the offense to have been commit
ted one day later than the one preceding
Il, Al.
offense to have been committed on each of
twenty six consecutive days. The last one
is signed A. r. Mock, states attorney,
and the whole Indictment is endorsed as
follows:
The People
VS..
William G. Morris.
Indictment for selling liquor.-A true
bill.
Geo Mixter-Foreman of the Grand
Jury.
Witnesses:-Henry Jacobs, Henry Hun
toon, Judsen A. Root, G. o. Mason, Will
liam Mcbride, M. A. Gould III. c. Far
mum.
w. Peasants, Judge.
Filed May 9th, 1871. S. P. Hodges,
Clerk; VIM. Payne, Sheriff.
Volume 2, Page 259 Criminal Record
10th day. May Term. Thursday May IS,
1871.
The People
VS. Tipping House.
William G. Morris. \
At this day came the People by A R.
Mock states attorney and the defendant in
person. comes in person and pleads guilty
to two counts in the indictment Where
upon the states attorney by leave of court
enters mol. pros, to all the other counts
therein. It is therefore ordered by the
court that said defendant pay fine Of
twenty dollars together with costs of this
proceeding.