The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-07-30
ARRESTED.
W. Joseph Cooper Arrested by Sheriff
Reticker This Morning,
Having Escaped From Sheriff Cum
mings, of Mercer County.
A MIXED-UP AFFAIR.

MIXED-UP AFFAIR.
Sheriff John M. Reticker received word
this morning to capture man named
W. Joseph Cooper, who would arrive in
Davenport about ii o'clock. The dis
patch was from Sheriff Cummings, of
Mercer county, who arrived himself
about noon. The sheriff, with Deputy
Sheriff Silvis, went over the river, and
had no trouble in getting their man, who
was, in fact coming over to this side to
straighten up the matter for which he had
first been arrested. With Cooper, at the
time of his arrest this morning, was his
brother-in law, Postmaster Greenwood, of
Gable.
An ARGUS reporter called at the inter
nal revenue collectors Office of J. NJ
Beardsley No. 2, directly after dinner,
where he found Cooper and his brother
| in law, also Sheriff Cummings The facts
of the case, as given TO the reporter are
as follows:
Cooper, up to the 18th of February,
was landlord of hotel at Viola.
lie also sold intoxicating liquors,
and the citizens of that moral
town entered complaint against him,
and were going to have him arrested.
This frightened Cooper, who Jumped"
the town, leaving enough money with a
man named French to pay the tax on his
goods, which was due to Uncle Sam, and
all other debts. French proved to he
faithless to the trnst imposed upon him
Internal Revenue Collector Beardsley had
notified Cooper that his government tax
was due, and French came to Rock Island
with CoOper's money, but did not pay the
tax The next,time French met Cooper
he told him that he had paid the tax, and
that Mr.. Beardsley had promised TO send
the receipt to him Time rolled along,
and Cooper continued to look for the
receipt from Beardsley, which of course
never came Meanwhile Beardsley had
issued a warrant for Cooper's arrest, and
when caught have him taken to the com
missioner at Chicago. At length Cooper,
thinking the matter was settled. returned
to Viola, where he was nabbed by Sheriff
Cummings
When Cooper learned the cause for
which he was arrested he WAS naturally
enough astonished. and exclaimed, why,
paid that long ago Cooper wanted
to find French, but the sheriff said he
would have to follow instructions. and take
him right to Chicago. He got him as far as
Necoma, where the prisoner said he
wanted to see the postmaster and get
some money. They stopped there and
Cooper succeeded in getting SIS. The
amount due the government was SAP IS,
and Cooper, not having enough to pay it,
determined not to go to Chicago, if pos
sibIe. tie managed 10 break away from
theIsheriff, and going to his brother in
law, at Cable, succeeded in enlisting his
sympathies, and the two came on here
together. Sheriff Cummings was close
on Cooper's heels, and sending the dis
patch to Sheriff Reticker, succeeded in
getting him again. The $42.85 was
paid Mr. Beardsley, and the matter was
satisfactorily settled French was the
real party to blame, as Cooper had given
him the money to pay the tax. French is
said to be gambler, and hard case, gen
orally. If he does not take French leave
Cooper will make him come to time