Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-09-19
GAMBLER DRAWS
GUN ON OFFICER
Indifference Of Authorities In
creases Boldness of Law
less Element.
ORDER LEAGUE IN ACTION
Sheriff's Forces Deny Assistance to
Constable in Raid on BlIburg's
Twentieth Street Joint.

H. e. Mcbride, c. A. Peterson and
William Stewart, arrested in the raid
of the gambling house above the sa-
loon conducted by A. w. Billburg, at
221 Twentieth street, Saturday after
noon, will have a hearing in the court
of Justice J. H. Cleland at o'clock
Thursday morning. In the meantime the
trio is at liberty under bond of $500
each. The conf1scated gambling para
phernalia, on which a value of $500 is
placed by the owners, will be destroy
ed under orders OF the court, as pro-
vided by law. In the raid $500 in cash
was seized also. Fifteen men were in
the place when Constable August
Schmid of South Rock Island, with sew
eral citizens whom he deputized to as
sist him, entered the place. The search
warrant was sworn out by ]. H. Hau-
berg a Moline attorney, who is acting
for the Rock Island Law and Order
league. 1t is said evidence will be in
troduced showing where one or more
men were feeced out of large sums of
money at the games in Billburg's.
Gun Play Threatened.
| Mcbride, who was in charge of the
gambling establishment in the ab-
sence Of Billburg, the proprietor, fash
ed a revolver when the constable and
his aids announced their mission. Nc
Bride was reminded that the city Of
Rock Island had not yet descended to
the uncivilized state, and he would
better conserve his health by submit
ing peaceably. This he consented to
do finally. No shots were fired. How
ever, Mcbride is facing charge of at
tempting to kill. There was a wild
scramble among the inmates One man
! jumped out of a second story window
onto a roof, and was injured in his
flight. The gambling apparatus was
| loaded on an auto truck and conveyed
to the court house. Several of the in
mates were pressed into service, reluc-
family, however, in loading the" appa-
ratus on the truck. The roulette wheel,
during the excitement, disappeared and
is supposed to have been hidden by
one of the fraternity.
Authorities Refuse Assistance.
Constable Schmid stated that he
asked assistance in the raid OF both
the sheriff's office and the local police
department, but was denied it by both.
This is nothing new, it might be said
for the information of the public. Bill
burg has been arrested before for con-
Quoting q gambling house in Rock Is
land, but for several months, with
others, has been doing business open
ly. The Argus has repeatedly remind
ed the authorities of the defiant atti- |
tude of the gamblers here, but its eff |
forts have fallen on dead ears. Evil |
IDENTITY the fraternity was not much |
disturbed by the raid on Billburg's !
Saturday afternoon, for the chips were /
rafting and the dice rolling with old
time regularity at several houses at |
night
The sheriff's force has promised, in
interviews, the suppression
of gambling in Rock Island. Those in
terviews seemingly were to hoodwink
the unknowing ones, as the sharks all
fingered; in fact. the tribe has grad
ually increased, until today there are
rs to 100 men connected with public
gambling rooms in this city. 1t is
known as one of the most fertile fields
in the middle west.
Property is Secreted.
A list of the confiscated articles
taken from The Billburg gambling
rooms is as follows:
One poker table.
One roulette table and wheel.
Two craps tables and dice.
Two leather billets.
More than $500 in cash.
A diamond stud, valued at $25.
The constable has placed the con-
iscated property in a secret hiding I
place and will not make this place
Known until the cases have been dis '
posed Of The money has been placed {
n bank.
Good Time for Pledges.
While The Argus, at this time, does
lot wish to enter into political dis +
ussion, with the moral conditions of
he city as an inspiration, it might not (
'e amiss for the taxpayers, irrespec-
i've of party faith, to secure pledges
rom the candidates for sheriff in ad-
ance of the November election. The
andidate who will go on record pub
ely as promising to drive the profes' {
ional gambler from Rock Island, anu
make the pledge with a positiveness
nd sincerity that will not permit of
n evasion after election. is the man :,
nat should, and doubtless will, receive u
~, .4ff T1chf IN ~