Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-07-11
Maj. J. M. BeardsIey Puts Price
on Court House Yard
Cannon.
BUT SHERIFF REFUSES TO DELIVER
Property Simply Loaned by Gov
eminent to Monument As.
ISOLATION Creates Stir.


guard at the soldiers monument
In court house square. and which he
claims are his personal property,
aud attempted to sell them. That
he did not succeed is due to the
claim that has been made that there is
no one except the government hsv-
ing authority to dispose of property
belonging 10 the L nited States army
and that these guns are part of the
army assets, having been simply
loaned to Rock Island county for such
uses as the patriotic organizations
might see hit 10 put them.
A bill of sale for the cannon was
given by the m jor to Milton McKin-
ley, of the firm of Morris & Lewis,
foundrymen. The price named was
$500 Mr.. Mckinley, accompanied by
Supervisor S. S. Hull. called upon
Sheriff Cralle about 1880 last night to
take the goods. The sheriff righlfully
refused, replying that no would first
have to satisfy himself as to whom
the property belonged. The fact that
an effort had been made to dispose of
the cannon gave rise to reports that
stirred the patriotic impulses of the
people generally. Indignation was
on every hand, and no one
connected with the transaction was
spared condemnation.
What Sir. Mckinley Says.
However, Mr. Mckinley called ut
THE ARGUS Office today to tell his
side of the case. lie was n business
hn
mad been offered the cannon bv Mai.
Beardsley during yesterday afternoon,
but before closing the deal had one of
them weighed to ascertain what he
would get for his money. In the
evening he met tie maj)r who had
bill of sale drawn up. The deal WAS
closed and Mr.. Mckinley made a pay
mebt to bind the bargain. He said
be mad been assured that no one had
any interest in the cannon except
Mai. Beardsley, that they were a
present from the government to the
latter, add he was free to dispose OF
them as he saw fit. Finding out that
there was dispute on this point, Mr..
stated that he was sorry
that he had not Investigated the case
more thoroughly before it had gone
to the point it had.
Says They Were In the Way.
Supervisor Hull's story is to the
effect that he was given to under
stand the guns were the property of
Beardsley. They had been piled up
for several years in the Jail yard, with
nothing left of the most of them but
the metal, the wood having long ago
fallen to decay. They were in the
way, he said, and as the county board
thought it would be too expensive to
have new carriages built for them, he
supposed the man who owned them
had right to do the next best thing
with them. Supervisor Hull said that
some days ago during CONVEX sation
with MIR Mckinley he brought up
the cannon for discussion, mention
ing that there was a bargain in the
Jail yard for some one. Mr.. Mckinley
said he was in the brass business, the
ma ior was given a bunch, and the
bargain was made.
Claims Absolute Ownershtp.
Msl. Beardsley stated that he is alb
solute owner of the cannon. They
were given to me TO do with as | saw
it," he said. Time after time ]
have tried to get the county to take
the old guns from the Jail yard. where
they had been dumped. and set them
up in the parks and public places.
but they would pay no attention to
me. The other day when the j. S.
came up the river and the citizens de-
sired to make noise they were COM
PEELED to use anvils. and i concluded
4 the people would not put the old
guns to some use / would 1t was
not a matter of money with me.
lid not care whether l received 81 or
IS, 600 for them, but / believe IL they |
ire not used in one way they should |
De in another"
How the Cannon Were Secured.
AS near as can be learned, when |
he local war veterans organized TO |
Iecure money with which to erect the |
hiatt in the court yard one of their |
plans WAS to surround the column
With cannon. When the shaft was
Congressman Hawley lent
lis efforts and by special act of con-
rress II cannon were loaned to the /
oldiers' organization. of which Maj |
was chairman. In his Ca
,acity as chairman of that body he
eceipted for the cannon at Rock
sland arsenal.
Veterans Familiar with Facts.
While the name of the organization
Ioes not appear in the government
ecoId, nevertheless old soldiers, es
those who were members of
he monument fund organization, :
lai m to be familiar with the circum-
Is noes under which the cannon were
eC ured, and are naturally amazed At
he action of their old comtade in seek
ng TO dispose of relics around which
enter so many historical reminis-
encaa -Four of the cannon ware Il