Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-06-02
HERE'S A PRETTY MESS"
officer Cummins Locked Up in
the County Jail.
Arrested mt the InstigatIon OF Other
Policemen, he Charges N Put up
Job.--A had Thing TO stir up.

The ARGUS of last Wednesday evening
alluded to the fact that rumors were il
circulation which, II based upon reliabl,
foundation, might lead not only to tht
decapitation of one of the Rock ISLAND
police force, but would send him to Jolie
tor term or so, IL the charges alleged tC
were proven. Last evening these reports
eliminated in the arrest of Police Officer
John Cummins by Constable L. V. Eek
hart. on a warrant sworn out by Magis'
trate Bennett, charging Cummins with
rape. The complaining witness was Lille
Kommer. a woman of i'll repute, who
charges that the crime was committed on
the night, or rather the morning fol-
lowing the firemen's parade TIL ursday
May "a; that Cumrnin's called at heI
rooms over the Centennial saloon on
Third avenue. and demanded immediate
admittance as an officer. and that upon
opening the door to HIM, he committed a
criminal assault.
Cummins was arrested last night too
late to give bail, and was obliged to
spend the night in the county Jail, and
this morning the case was continued un~
til next Wednesday, the prisoner being
recognized in the meantime in bonds of
$500
Cummins charges that he has been
made the victim of conspiracy on the
force, and says he can prove his inno>
cence by an allibi showing that he was
home eating lunch at the time when he
was charged at being at Lille Kommer's
rooms. 1T is put up job" he said, "a
scheme on the part of Bill ladders, Bill
Ihrig and John Wichman to get my star
away from me. 1t is other members of
the night force than myself who support
this woman, and will give their names
away with the proof when the time
comes. I'll stir up muss here that will
make some of them feel mighty sick"
The ARGUS does not propose to shield
Mr.. Cummins and it hopes that the mat
ter will be thoroughly sifted and
that if he, or any other member of
the Rock Island force is guilty
of the disgraceful. criminal conduct
charged, it will be shown and proper
punishment melted out. But it must be
said that Officer Cummins did not re,
ceive fair treatment last night. as an hour
before he was errested-suspecting tha at
the warrant was TO be served-he had
bondsmen waiting at the station to secure
his release, but he was not arrested until
these gentlemen had gone home. This
morning it was apparent that attempts
had been made to cause Cummins trouble
in getting bail and to influence those who
had stated last night that they would see
him through, 1t was almost impossible
for the officer to secure bonds.
Marshal Brennan believes the woman
has been Influenced in making the COM
plant, for when he first heard of the |
charges he went to her rooms with Mag |
istrate Bennett, and told her if she had |
any charges to prefer against Cummings |
to make an affidavit, and she declined TO |
DO it. Marshal Brennan did this IN order |
that he might suspend Cummins from
1uty as a policeman if there was suffl-
,ient evidence to sustain the charge.
1t is the duty of the mayor, as well as
.he courts. now that these charges are
made, to have thorough investigation
made, andi Cummins is guilty. show him
40 mercy, and if there is conspiracy to
'mirch him, those participating in it
'hould be punished 1t would be diff
cult to conceive of a more diabolicsl out
age than that with which Cummins is
charged. or a more malicious and fiendish
rhine than that with which he charges
hree of his fellow officers. What the
public wants to know is, who is guilty.
is, and the public has right
% know who. II is bad mess, but
iecency and justice demands that it be
stirred up.