The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-12-22
MY PROPERTY. !"
Danforth and the Argus.-.His Claim
Bogus and a Fraud.
He Marched Into Court and Then
Marched Out Again.

old man of the R0cE Islander has made
statements to the effect that the ARGUS
office belonged to him, and that he had
been cuchred out of it. Not being &C
quainted with the history OF. the paper
when it was so unfortunate as to have
Danforth's name associated with it, the
ARGUS reporter paid visit to. Major
Connolly this morning, in order to asccr
tain why the cold man" made such an alb
surd claim, and why he didn't substantiate
it and get 'his property"
The man of news found the Major il
his usual pleasant mood and ready to
answer all inquiries.
well, Major, | have come to find out
some of the transactions which occurred
in the ARGUS office before my time Have
you seen the Rock Islander this week,
wherein Danforth again claims the own
ership of the ARGUs?'
He replied that he had not, and asked if
the reporter had a copy with him, Not
having one, the reporter gave from mem
DRY general outline of what DanfOrth
said
1T did not matter much, the Major
remarked, what Danforth did say; no
one believed him. The ARGUS. last week
by three or four uuimpeachable witnesses,
proved him to be untruthful and a falsifer.
But this is my birthday, and feel peace
full and happy towards the entire world,
and nothing could induce me to say or do
anything harsh today"
All | want is few facts in regard 10
this NATTER the reporter replied 1T
makes no difference to me what the old
crank says, but he has alluded to Hon p
l.. Cable and Others in regard to the
transactions of which speak, and think
the readers of the ARGUS should know
the actual facts
In response Major Connolly said that
some years ago when Danforth was edit
ing the ARGUS he received for services
rendered in the paper, $1,000 in cash. He
failed to pay this money into the treasu-
ry. The other stockholders finding it out
insisted on receiving the money, and after
some time compelled him to pay IN
the amount. His services were then dis
penScd with. He then commenced to
publish the Rock Ls'aJldsr. In the mean
time, Milton Jones, one of the heaviest
stockholders in the ARGUS, arranged to
purchase }. $. brakes interest in the pa
per. Drake being the man who had dis
charged Danforth, the latter aided Jones
to Gust Drake, taking Jones personal
obligations and his stock for the aid
extended. Jones controlling ma
jority of the stock, Drake left the
paper. In the meantime the
ARGUS, as a corporation, owed Charles
BufOrds estate for rent, Mitchell & Lynde
and the First n ational bank for borrowed
money, Wheelock's paper mill for paper,
and the employees of the Office, in all about
s., 800. DanfOrth was informed that he
could have the office, and thus save him
self from loss if he paid off these debts, a
mere pittance for the property; that he
had no claims on the ARGUS corporation
for his debt because it was Jones private
transaction, and if he did not take the
office at the price named, he would
probably lose every dollar that Jones
owed him. Probably. concluding he
could get it for great deal less money,
he refused to pay the 81, 500 and take the
property. Ben. T. Gable, as generous as
he is kind, to enable the employees to save
their hard earned wages, the estate, banks
and paper mill having prior lien, bought
! the Office for the $2,5 and turned it
over to an old school mate, Richardson,
to ran Danforth, in the meantime, con
cluded he had good case for the courts
He employed lawyers and filed bin in
chancery, making a half dozen partie:
more Or less defendants. They filed theil
answers, which disclosed the fact that il
any one was guilty of wrong, it was moi
the defendants. And Danforth must have
been told so by his lawyers, for the next
movement he made was to pay the cost:
in the case, dismiss his bill. and quietly
steal out of court That is all there is o.
it,"
The reporter kindly thanked the major
for his information. and Withdrew.