Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-11-12
REDDIG IN THE THIRD WARD.
Circumstances of That Election Day Es-
capade.


ley Reddig, and it is not the pur-
pose here to further dwell I'M
! necessarily upon the incidents in
which this individual figured last
Tuesday. The public has a right to
know of such affairs and of all
that may pertain to them. The ARGUS
has. while detailing information on
matters of a news nature, sought
! at all times to be above all
! else right. There are circum-
stances that justify repeated refer
ence to certain things, and in such
an event further allusion is not al
ways superfiuous. From the informa-
| ton which came to The ARGUS Tuesday
the facts appearing in that days all
issue of the paper relative to the at
tempt of Reddig to vote, seemed amply
justified. 1t was not until Wednes-
day night that THE ARGUS learned
from sources which it deemed
worthy that the assertions
previously made were at all at variance
with the actual facts. The ARGUS
has since then taken the pains and
time to make further Investigations
before again making reference to
the matter, and it has found
that while the general information
impaired to it seemed to warrant the
assumption the straight assertion that
Capt. Ransom escorted Reddig from
the Jail to the polls, attempted to
vote him and marched him back to the
jail again, was not justified. And
let it be stated here that the
modification of the former statement
in this connection is not made at the
suggestion or request of Capt. Ran
son, or any one else whomsoever,
either directly or indirectly. t is
merely the part of q newspaper seek
ing TO be correct and just in its state
ments, and following the course that
it would in all other matters
where an inaccuracy had appeared
and is as ckeerfullv done as it would
be under other circumstances.
Officer William Ryan was the first
to observe Reddig after he came from
the Jail building. The officer had
come out of Pfoh's store at Fourteenth
street and Third avenue. and en-
countered Deputy Sheriff Ransom,
Bailiff Sample and Reddig standing
on the corner. As he passed, the
officer says, Sample remarked,
pointing to Reddig, "just out in
time to vote The officer states that
he then saw Reddig and Sample pro-
coed down Third avenue together.
Suspecting that Reddig was about to
vote, he hailed Leo Deisenroth and
made known his suspicion, stating
that Reddig belonged in the Fifth
ward. as he had arrested him there
Immediately preceding mis- last incar-
ceration. The officer then came on
up town.
Mr. Deisenroth tells The ARGUS
that he folio wed to the first precinct
of the Third ward and saw Sample
and Reddig enter the voting place fol-
lowed by Ransom. Deisenroth fol-
lowed them in.
Election Judge George w. Henry
who refused to receive the vote of
Reddig, tells The ARGUS that when he
first saw Ransom, Sample and Reddig,
the three were standing together close
to the rail and either Ransom or Sam
pie, stated, This man wants TO
vote" Thersupon Mr. Henry says
he Intercepted Reddig as to his res
dence, and the latter replied, the
county jail. Mr.. Henry told him that
involuntary confinement in the coun-
ty Jail did not establish residence, and
that his vote would have to be sworn
in, at the same time handing out the
form of affidavit used in such cases.
Deisenroth then spoke up and |
asked Reddig where he last resided |
before entering the Jail, to which the |
latter replied, at the corner of Twen- |
ty-second street and Second avenue.
Then" said Deisenroth. you vote |
in the Fifth ward. and 1 will challenge |
vour vote if cast here
Reddig forthwith started toward the |
Second ward leaving Ransom and Sam |
pie at the Third ward polls. Deisen-
roth pursued Reddig toward the Sec |
ond ward to prevent his voting there.
Election Judge G. ii. McKOwn |
makes the statement to The ARGUS |
that Sample did the talking as far as
Reddig was concerned, related the fact |
that he wanted to vote and told of his |
havingJust come out of Jail. Ransom,
saws McKown was in the house, but he |
does not think he said anything either
way as to Reddig's qualification or
disqualification to vote. Il told Red
digs" said Mr. McKown, that he /
would have to swear his vote in if
he voted, as there were men back of |
MIN WIZ were NIIIlH9 ~ CHdllCHSS
his right. and the necessary affidavit |
was laid before him. With that he left |
the house. The circumstances were |
such that l afterward told Sample it
was just as well that he had not as
sumeed the responsibility of swearing
Reddig in. And Sample agreed with
me"
This train of circumstances is re-
lated to show the foundation of the
story which came to The ARGUS
Tuesday afternoon from three dis
tinct sources other than the wit
nesses referred to. and each with en-
phatic declaration that the attempt
had absolutely been made by Ransom
TO vote Reddig. The ARGUS does not ad-
NIT that it acted on hearsay, but made
a. complete an investigation Is posi-