Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-12-27
VERDICT As VIEWED.
Public Opinion on the convic.
tions in the Storm Drain
Case.
TIE FINDING OF TIE juicy

9sn,r ~ E-s-r led .. Ja-, aud OF s.Il,sry
Fleet Pr ,oesGin:s without Precedent
I'm the Crmiasl Abbsls of Rock IL
and Couary-ras NEG Sep to Is, .Ex-
peetsd.
The outcome OF the prosecution Ct
the storm drain nspiracy case in
the ci:cait court has afforded q live.
| iy topic for conversation siuce the
inding Of the jury. which heard and
deliberated upon ,he great mass o;
evidence presented. While there is
naturally q diversity OF views and
opinions stated, the verdict is gen.
orally regarded as just, apd while
the criendants have ueen spared the
gnominy Of Psniteutiary pensl.y,
The punishment Is held as sufficient
20 be % salutary effect. teaches
The proper lesson i, will promote a
degree VI caution in The awarding Of
puol.c contracts hereafter, which IN
Ihis particular case. ht least. it is
neediess 10 do more than state, WAS
not manifest, while IL will checku ate
reckless style Of procedure that has
been developing in sn astounding,
as well rs in III alarming degree 10
late years in connection with under.
takiogs which are borne by tax
payers. This reference is intenied
20 apply NJ, only to the city govern
nent. but 10 the county rs well; 1t
is not designed to be sweeping in its
nature, aud need cause no ofTensr
where it does not apply. 1. will
perhap, suffice to Say that the m pre-
worthy the object. ,he more unus.
ual have been some Of the means
employed TO attain II, and il is on
this account that the nope is vcueh.
safed that the storm drain disclosure
and conviction may be suiiicienl
unto Itself, rather than sffordiug tn,
Opening chapter OF G new book o
revelations. Rock Island is not pin
ing for any more Of this kind Of lore
In the storm drain couspirac,
there was little difficulty experienced
by the state in sustaining the ollie
gations OF fraud. The pnb ic wa
early in the trial convinced OF III
crime, the nature Of the punishmen
being the point around which opinion
chiefly conferred. The jury, from
what can be learned, was uuanimon
for conviction from the mo olenL G
retirement from the court room. til
. only source OF difference being tn
penalty, and while il is on lei
stood there were those who iavore
peniteDtiary sentence. it was con
ceted thai in any event some shout
suffer more than others. Thus Tn
nature OF the verdict w,s eyentuali
sereed upon with the maximum pea
atty, heavy fine
L"uss.t Crimipsi Trisl.
The trial proved the longes. in tn
history OF criminal proceeding i
Rock Island county, and NATURAL
involved great deal Ct expou {
The jurors who heard il receive,
5000 IS when they we've discharge
Friday night. while Ibis smount Wa
Increased ~ $3.50 ia consequence @
the expense II ezra venirUs GrCWl
before an acceptable Jury could b
selected. The item Of board durini
Ute progress 81 the Trial amounted +,
, $3.50. " hi Q iha ac;us. court cost Il
tho WAY cf ices, etc, has no: ye
J, been fully estimated. The c5ar
costs. above the jury expenses, etc.
are to be borne by the convicted. s
that IL the finding of the Jury holds
The defer dsnts amen. them vi
D have considerable 10 pay ia addition
: TO the mere fines.
The next move will probably be
motion b. the defendants couose
for new trial and in the event @
} ibis being ovorruled, notice % ~
peal may be given. Tie disposition
If the deiencsuts pending the AZ
peal is entirely ia the hands Of N
court. Further moves in toe ca 81
are. however, anticipated the pre-.
.nt week.