Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-05-13
WHEELAN HOLDS
own IN INQUIRY
j. x. Scott Declares Nothing
Has Yet Developed to His
Discredit at Chicago,
PRESS REPORTS GARBLED
Secret Testimony Before jury Print
ed in Colored Form in Effort
to Brighten Witnesses.

L. Wheelan will, in my opinion, de-
velop absolutely no facts discreditable
to Mr.. Wheelan." Attorney John X.
Scott said today on his return after
giving his testimony before the Cook
county inquisitorial body. Every pos
sible angle of the case was investigated
by the grand jurors, and feel salts
fed that they have not even the slight
est vestige of evidence upon which
to base a bribery charge. However,
the object of the present inquiry
seems to be not so much with the ex-
pectation of securing an indictment for
bribery in the first instance as to Sc
cure one for perjury, with the possible
end in view of forcing confession on
the promise of immunity.
Annoying Liberties Tolerated.
ut is amazing to me the way in
jury reached the public, as the Chicago
daily press seemed to be able to re-
port in substance the testimony of
the various witnesses appearing be-
fore the Investigating body Such a
condition could not exist in a county
like this. In the papers it was stated
that Thomas Cox, one of the Rock
Island witnesses. weakened and col
lapsed during his examination, and it
was even charged that he tainted. The
story is absolutely false. The man in
question, after answering a rapid fire
of questions for about one hour and
one-half, standing all the while, Wills
the jurors and attorney were seated,
at last growing tired, asked If he
might have a chair and sit down dur
ing the rest of his examination. That
is absolutely all that there was to the
story of his fainting; yet some one i'm
mediately informed the Chicago press
that witness in the grand jury room
had utterly collapsed under the furious
cross examination.
Political Complications.
"As 1 stated before, do not think
that the. is any possible ground on
which Mr.. Wheelan might be indicted.
no one can ever correctly
state what turn an investigation like
this may take, especially where the
is SO largely complicated
with politics as is this one"
Mr. Wheelan is still in Chicago His
wife has joined him there and they
are visiting relatives. The Rock Island
before the Cook county
grand jury declare that the inquisi-
torial grilling by the Chicago news
paper reporters was more severe than
that conducted by the jury attorney.
Cox Denies He Tainted.
Thomas Cox, former city detective,
who was a witness before the legisla-
i've graft grand jury at Chicago We'd
1esday. returned home last night He
denies the report that he tainted while
N the witness box, but says he became
exhausted and was finally given a
chair.
Interviewed as to the third degree"
pursued in order to wiring |
confessions or tangle witnesses. Mr..
Cox is quoted by the Chicago Inter
Ocean as saying:
81 want to say something about that !
report that tainted yesterday. Idon't |
believe 1 exactly tainted. but l did be-
come very i'll, and If did faint it is |
lot to be wondered at when you con-
slider how was treated.
Air in Room Bad.
The windows and doors of the |
grand jury room were closed tightly |
md the air was so foul that I could !
hardly stand it. | am accustomed to |
living out of doors good deal, and /
his stuffy hole was almost enough in
tself to make me sick. Added to this,
hey had me cooped up in little stall
hey call a witness box which is hard
Y big enough to turn around in.
'They stood me up in this box and
made me remain on my feet for two
ours, while the attorneys, the fore
IAN and the grand jurors from all
ides shot questions at me. / was
ever offered a chair, and there was
o way of. resting myself in that stall.
"On one side of me was the states
ttorney and his assistant. Down in
-ont was the grand jury and the
taking everything down.
n the other side was the foreman of
he jury and his secretary. First one
de would ask a question and then
mother, and had to keep turning my
ED around until my neck was tired
ut.
Truth Not wanted.
81 tried to tell the truth, but it seem
that wasn't what was wanted. They
sked me about how much money /
ad and how l made it and how l ,
oent it. II said that l had talked
, some man, they wanted to know his
anne, where his office was, what the
lrniture in it looked like and where
ach of us sat during the converse
on. This was maddening. I became
under the strain and they had TO
I've me a chair.
ReIease From "sweat Box"
cat one time said loaned Wheelan ,
100. and they doubted that ever had /,
lat much money to lend. They :
,uldn't seem to see how a man earn
& a good income could save that
UGH in 20 years or more. Wayman s
spt me until today in order that / {
light show my bank book and prove {
laf 7 was NOT a manner and a liar :