Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-11-10
S1O,O 600 WORTHOF GAMBLING
EQUIPMENT TAKEN In A RAID


marked. why, we we're treating ev-
erybody right and supposed we had
satisfied them all. can't see what
they mean. It's certainly not playing
square with us. We have gone ahead
and put our good money into these
layouts-you know they come high
leased our rooms, and had settled down
in the belief that we were not to be
disturbed. Now what do you think Of
it? Pretty raw treatment, don't you
think?"
O'COnncII Gums the Game.
w. A O'Connell of Davenport is the
one directly responsible for the pres
ent unsettled state of affairs in gam
bling circles. O'Connell, the story
of whose experiences was related in
last nights Argus, visited the
city Monday afternoon. He dropped
into the resort over the Park saloon,
on Twentieth street, and took a buck
at the tiger. He did not appear to be
satisfied with the manner in which he
had been separated An inventory
showed that he had contributed $95.
He declared he had been jobbed. So
he took his grievance to the sheriff.
The latter Immediately arrested him
on an information fled in the county
court charging him with gambling.
O'Connell thought this a strange pro-
cedure. He wanted to know why the
real offenders should escape.
PTVT fvXA kI0L
he had lost his money in an I'M
fair game and he demanded that it be
retur&ed to him through the
county authorities. Presently
check, forwarded from the Park
gambling joint, came to the
court house, and was turned over to
O'Connell. He cashed it at once. 1t
was for $95. O'Connell then stated
that he was ready for trial, whereupon
it was decided that he had not commit
ted any real offense, and the informa-
ton that had been filed against him
was withdrawn.
Public Record Disastrous.
The recording in the county court Of
the charge against O'COnnell caused
an investigation by The Argus. The
facts thereupon came out. The
sheriff's information against O'Con-
nell was in itself positive evil
dence that gambling was being openly
carried on in the city in at least one
place. He had no alternative, and the
raid was the result.
BOIdest In History of City.
IN, he toto Of %ba
city Of Rock Island had the gamblers
become so bold as they had been in
the past few months, following a clean
ing up, also conducted under the di-
rection of the sheriff. At that time it
was announced that gambling would
have to cease here. However, the
members of the fraternity continued
to linger. The Argus predicted that
they would open again, and they did,
but not until they had effected Ear
with the proper powers.
The word went out over the country
that the city was wide open, and new
corners were arriving daily. They in
cluded some of the most dangerous
crooks in the country. They were en-
trenched so strongly-or at least they
believed they were-that they would
resent any interference from other Of
fetal sources. In other words, the or
binary taxpayer had no voice in pro-
testing against crime in his city. He
would keep mum or stand the conse-
quences. They would do some ''clean-
ing in this here village" as one of
them put it in an underground threat
that was sent out.
Nightly Losses Reported.
Ordinarily, when a man is trimmed
in a square play, he takes his medi-
cine. It is only in rare instances that
a loser will seek protection from the
police authorities. The lay gambler is
too game for that But when he is
''roped" he will squeal in the majority
Of cases. The strong arm" gentry
must have been numerous here, for
there were repeated complaints of
victims against the gamblers. Only
q few of them came to The Argus. The
victim, as a rule, was bluffed or hush
ed" He was satisfied to get his mon
ey back. But O'Connell proved an ex-
ception.
work Has Only Been Begun.
The work of giving Rock Island
moral cleansing has barely been start
ed Readers of The Argus will recall
the experience of the Davenport livery
stable employee He drew his months
pay of $40. He told his wife that he
was going to the grocer and butcher
and settle the monthly bills. Instead
he came to Rock Island His wife
found him in the gambling room over
the Park saloon at night. He was
broke" She coaxed him to leave with
her. When they reached dark spot
On Twenty-frst street he proceeded to
beat her. piqued over his loss and her
him. Two passing citizens
nterfered and the woman was saved
he punishment the husband had plan
ned to give her. This case was I'M
noticed by the authorities.
Farmer "RoiIed."
Another case that happened to be-