Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-07-14
A BULLY BAILIFF.
Such s. 8. Hull Seems to be
Regarded.
BUT TERM HAS TWO APPLICATIONS.

tied His Brutality TO the queens taste
and the Grand Jury's Action Conduct
that Docs its Own Condemnation.
The Union of this morning in re-
porting the proceedings Of the grand
jury makes this statement:
The jury among other matters
also investigated the assertion M ,de
in some quarters that Deputy Sheriff
s. S. Hull was unnecessarily harsh
with Frank Harvey while bringing
him from Muscatine. Several per-
sons who were in the car were cate
chised by the jury. and others who
were in position to know about it
were before the jury. and the fact
that the jury did not make any men
ton of it, shows very conclusively
that it did not deem the charge
worthy of notice"
As q matter of course there is no
means of determining fully what
course the grand jury pursued, or
whether it had under consideration a
purpose to indict the obstreperous
bailiff, or merely to censure him. A
member of the jury, however, in
formed an ARGUS representative this
morning that the body deliberated
on both lines of action, and that a
motion to ignore the charge was car
ried by a very narrow margin. 1t was
further learned that witnesses were
introduced in Mr.. Hull's defense, as
well as those who witnessed his con-
duct on the train, and were indig-
nant at it, and that in his behalf it
was shown by the sheriff of Musca-
tine county that Hull was sober and
that he had very uurulv man in
charge. and further that it was the man
who was intoxicated and vicious in
stead Of Hull. 1t is not the purpose
here to discuss extensively the grand
iury's action or its motives, nor
is it sought to raise the ques-
ton as to how far its jurisdiction
extends in such cases, but if Mr..
Hull's case was being inquired into
on the ground Of a criminal charge
he has enjoyed the unusual privi-
lege of beng permitted TO introduce
witnesses in his own behalf. If fur
Their the prisoner was intoxicated
the brutality of the bailiff was all the
more unjustifiable and cowardly.
Conduct Condemns Itself.
THE ARGUS is not in position te
know what witnesses were examined
in aiding the grand jury in its in
vestigation. 1t does have knowledge
however, of abundant testimony tt
substantiate every allegation which
has appeared in its columns will
reference to the deplorable inciden
of the night before the Fourth. Th'
account of the affair given in thes'
columns was published only ate
the most careful investigation, an,
The ARGUS has no hesitancy in it
own convictions that Hull acted no
only the bully and the coward, bu
that he did it deliberately an,
thought he was smart in 80 doing
Bearing out this same conclusion tn
following letter was received thi
morning. and as the author is no
known personally and the communi
cation is entirely voluntary it mus
be accepted as thoroughly unbiase,
and unprejudiced. The writer in al
explanatory note simply says: -
was an eye witness to the awfu
piece OF brutality that occurred o.
the Rock Island train the evening o
July and ! send you true accoun
OF the affair which you may publish
II you deem it of any interest to you
readers" Then follows the letter
One Who Saw 1t ALL
OskALOOsA. Iowa, July 1S.-Edi
tor of The ARGOS: l was in you
: Icity last week and noticed an articl
in your excellent paper in regard t
the affair that occurred on the Roc
Island train which arrives in you
city about 1850, and also another i
the Union by the officer himself. Tn
: story of the affair which appeared i
THE ARGUS was nearly correct, bu
tae story of the officer, for falsehood
was only excelled by the brutalit
he exhibited on the train. Ever
word of his story is . miserable lie
fpr was an eye witness to the Who'll
affair. The officer, who l was il
formed is deputy sheriff for Rock Is
and county, boarded the train 9
Muscatine in charge Of the prisoner
who was wanted ut Rock Island IL
burglary. The train had barrel
started when the officer, for no re,
son in Gods world. began his hellis
abuse on the unfortunate man, VII
was securely handcuffed. The pri
oner said something in an ordinar
tone of voice, when the officer bega
showering blows on his face. at th
same time giving expression to ep
ihets that would shame the yer
devils in he'll. This "hero" woul
then turn around to the passenger
with Nephisto-like smile. He the
pulled his bleeding victim to tt
other side Of the car, pushing b
head through the window. tt
fellow in his pain was trying to %
: something only at every utterant
to be mashed two or three blows j
4 his already mutilated face. Throug
! weakness he fell to the floor be- wee
] the seats. When Davenport W,
s reached the officer commenced kic
ing him in the head, trying to nal