Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-02-09
BUSTERS BLUFF.
John T. kenworthy's $25, 900
Damage Suit.
DAVENPORT INCIDENT THE CAUSE.


Rashes Iato Court VITA . ClAin Asainst
The Argus - . Result Of he PslntanG
of the Msagrs FAess q that Robbery
Esespads.
John T. Kenworthy sent to the
circuit clerks Office last night, just
before 6 O'Clock, the preacipe for .
s25.0U suit against The Argus. In
view Of the hasty manner in which
the preliminary writ was drawn. and
the fact that the basis of the claim is
not set up in detail, the presumption
suit of the publication In The ARGUS
of yesterday of the facts concerning
the latest Davenport escapade in
which Kenworthy figured in a charge
OF robbery against John McDar-
rah, of this city, and the two
women, Belle Greenwell aud Flo
Scott. who had been their compan-
ions.
TIE ARGUS IN giving to the public
discharged the duty of . reputable
paper in the treatment Of q police
item. 1t took the statement
In the first place. of one of the most
careful and reliable papers in Daven-
port relating to an affair to which
could not fail to attach local inter-
est. and then verified every portion
in detail during the day, and in the
same manner substantiated the
subsequent developments. and
printed them in the same con-
nection. And last night after receiv-
ing notice of Kenworthy's claim.
Notwithstanding the employment OF
the customary caution during the
dav, representatives of the paper
went to Davenport. and traced every
foot-step of Kenworthy and Nc
Darrah from the beginning to the
end of the exploit which eliminated
in the charge of robbery preferred
by Kenworthy, and under which he
had his three companions locked up
over Sunday, and which circum'
stance as in all matters of public
record. made it legitimately and prop
erly q matter Of public news.
No Mistake About It.
1t was ascertained and proof was
in abundance adduced. and is a
hand OF every phase of the affair, tina,
ali parties concerned had had a great
deal more screening on the part o.
levery paper, including THE ARGU.
and the Democrat, than they deserved
The facts as known do not exonerate
Kenworthy in the least. It was Johr
T. Kenworthy who was involved, and
there is no opportunity for him te
prove an alibi, or to establish thu
slightest case of mistaken identity
These additional assertions are nov
, given by The ARGUS to sustain it
reputation before its leaders as 8
faithful and accurate gatherer o
news, in view of the surprising posi-
ton which Kenworthy has taken.
Police Matters Pebble.
The ARGUS has not given itself tt
the practice of discussing the per
sonal habits Of any citizen. and
where the citizen has 30 shaped hi
acts as to avoid the notoriety tina
comes from police Investigations
aud sometimes otherwise-it is no
the rule OF all newspapers to interes
themselves. There is enough evil
brought to the public notice day BY
day through the medium OF thos,
who are the instruments for the pre-
servation Of public peace and decen
, cy. without going out Of ones way
to discover the resorts of vice anC
those who revel therein. Besides
the communicating effects Of undu,
Ipublication Of all that happens OF
the shady side Of life warrant pa
pers in exercising the discreet o,
born Of experience where police rev
elations are avoided. But in tn,
case OF such last contingency it il
different. The paper thereupon be
comes the mirror to reflect to tn
public what its agents are doing
and it cannot fail to serve its pur
pose II it 10 worthy. And such be
ing the case, what more reprehensi
BILE course could be manifest in
newspaper than in sparirg one in
dividual and not another? Is Their,
: any logical reason why the name o
john T. Kenworthy should be elimi
/ u0SCu lIOm bA0A0oOStOA VI
Davenport nature more ths
another? It would have been q.
evidence of Inconsistency, at lea.t
i. for . paper to have mentioned tn
accused in Q serious criminal cbarg
without referring to the name of tn
sccuser. The prosecutor is rs respon
sible for his acts and his conduct q
the arraigned. The Davenport Pc
lice were called to make an arres
for larceny. The allegations wer
made by Kenwortby. and the attend
ing circumstances naturally devel
oped. Such additional evidence .
may be needed subject to later de
velopments 10 At hand.
Kenworthy's suit is purely . bluff
and one that no sober man woul'
have made.
1he Iresaoat Of Yesesrday.
The Democrat Of last evening Ia
the following in detail Of what trans
iforred in the proCeedin0s of yeotef