Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-06-19
THE L0ONEY BAIL
William McConochie, Phil Mil
Ter, n. Mccarthy and A. J. D.
MoeIler Come to Rescue.
JOINTLY GIVE SECURITY
DIworth Bond Still Lacking-Sheriff
Out of Town and Papers Are
Missing.

John Looney this noon gave bail on
the 81 indictments against him in the
circuit court, his four sureties William
McConochie, Phil Miller. Henry Ne
Carthy of South Heights, and A. J. D.
Moeller, qualifying Jointly for the $24
100 bond required on the indictments.
Bond for William DlwOrth, indicted
with Looney on the - libel charges,
was not furnished, but It was reporte |
would be given this afternoon before
the adjournment of court.
Looney ON Bond.
Looney himself offered to go surety
for Dilworth. and i'll the examination OF
him by the states attorney relative to
his competency TO act as a bOndSman
LCOney became personal in his remarks
TO an extent that made il necessary for
Judge Graves to demand that matters
not pertaining to the question before
The court be not discussed. Other sure
ty for Dilworth will be required.
sheriff Leaves Town.
The action of Sheriff Edward Kittil-
sen in the matter is the subject of much
comment. for while in other cases the
sheriff insisted on bond being given
Immediately before he would allow the
indicted men released from custody. in
The case of the indictments against
LoOney and Dilworth. ne permitte, 4
them until this afternoon to furnish
bail, and last evening found il convent
ent to make a trip 10 Joliet with one
of the several prisoners who have been
sentenced to the state penal institu
lions. During his absence the papers
necessary before the indicted men could
be taken in court and committed tC
jail by the judge in default of bail, could
not be located by the attaches of tn
Office. The states attorney in court
this noon expressed the opinion tha1
the sheritf's action was taken with the
intention of allowing the men freedom
for a longer time than customary il
order that they might procure bail.
Causes Much Comment
The Indictment of LoOney oCcaSiOneC
much comment about the city last even
ing and today, and to many the mos
surprising charge was that OF briber,
and conspiracy to bride and to eXtort
1t had been expected that Looney's ma
licious and bitter personal attack
would sooner OF later result in crimina
| libel suits on complaint of the men al
| lacked. And the four men alleged :,
have been the victims of the libel ar
| a small proportion of the number o
men who, if they cared to, could prot
ably secure indictments on the sam
charge against LOoney and the other
indicted with him.
Would Blame Others.
Al the time the Sunday lid was OF
| LoOney persistently sought to place tn
responsibility for this action on TIL
Argus, while now from the evidence o.
which the grand jury acted, it appear
that he himself was the one most am
ious to have the lid put on. and keE
on, at the same time, according to tn
charge of the indictment. endeavOrin
to hold up the Rock Island Brewin
company for $4,000 to get the lid raj
ed. The evidence on this point {
Mayor McCaSkrin. whom it is allege
LoOney sought to bride. may prove
revelation to the people of Rock !
land.
Generally Approved.
The men who have brought the 4
ton for criminal libel against Loom
and DilwOrth are receiving the almo:
unanimous appreciation of the cor
munity, and the moral support
which they are entitled for appealin
TO the law TO see what can be accom-
lished by that iHstrumentality to put
stop to the scandalOuS and outraged,
proceedings that have been going ;
unchecked in the community.
May Plead Limitations.
In court Looney suggested to Judl
Graves that some of the indiCtmeu
against him are Outlawed by the statu
of limitations. and intimated that |
might plead this as a defense. TT
states attorney said he left the matt
with the defense. 1t may be TIL
Looney will take this course rath
than stand trial on these few partic
lar charges against him.