Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-10-11
CEST IS OPPOSED
AS TRIAL JUDGE
Attorneys for Indicted Insur-
ance Men Want Hearing
Before Another.
PREJUDICE is ALLEGED
S. r. Kenworthy Appointed to Assist
in Prosecution of Law and
Order League Cases.

An affidavit charging that Judge
William H. Gest is prejudiced and that
the alleged wTeckers of the Fraternal
Tribunes can not be accorded a fair
trial before him was presented in the
branch court today in an effort to
transfer the case for trial to another
court. When Judge F. D. Ramsay ar
rived late yesterday afternoon, he and
Judge Gest, after a conference, decid-
ed to exchange benches, Judge Gest
going from the main court TO the
branch court and Judge Ramsay TAX
ing up the work in the main court. 1t
is the turn of Judge Ramsay to occu-
py the bench IN the main court and
the changing was not entirely unex-
pected. The attorneys appearing for
the fraternal insurance men who are
under Indictment, took exception, how
ever, and the affidavit charging preju-
dice was at once prepared. Louis X.
Cleaveland and R. ]. Pearson of Mo
line subscribed to- the affidavit. 1t
asks for a change of venue and Judge
Gest has taken it under advisement.
Want Indictments Quashed-
The first step to be taken by the de-
Tense in the fraternal insurance cases,
after the affidavit is disposed of, will
be TO fight the form of the indictments
returned. Thus far only three of the
defendants, Thomas H. Wilson,
Charles H. Walters and S. S. Noel
vaine, have asked for the change -
venue. but it is understood that the
others will follow suit if the first re-
quest is granted.
Attorney w. r. Moore Of Moline has
been engaged by States Attorney L.
NJ. Magill to aid in the prosecution of
the cases, which are to come up in
the branch court. Mr.. Moore and AS
sistant States Attorney H. NJ. Schriv-
er will represent the state. Mr.. Ma
gill will be employed in the meantime
in the main court. in which the GRIM
inal docket is now receiving attention.
s.R. KenwOrthy to Assist.
The Law and Order league has ar
ranged to have Attorney S. r. Ken
worthy assist States Attorney Magill
in the prosecution of the cases which
the league has brought against the
gamblers and other despoilers of pub
lie morals. Mr.. Magill has according
" appointed Mr.. Kenworthy as one OF
his assistants and he will prepare him
self TO assist in the prosecutions which
are soon to come up in the county
court, when the keepers of houses OF
ill fame and those who sold liquor
without a license will be placed on
trial
The states attorneys office is the
busiest that it has been in many day.
Two representatives of the office are
in the branch court arguing the mo-
tons to quash the indictments in the
insurance cases, another is in the
main court, one or two of them will be
needed in the county court shortly and
there is a possibility that there will
be work for the state in some of the
Justice courts at any time.
New Deputies Appointed.
Because of the heavy criminal bust
ness in two courts at the same time. /
Sheriff Edward 'Kittilsen has found it
advisable to add two more deputies to
his force. The appointees are William
H. Brough of this city and Milo /
grimes of Moline The force now in
cludes the sheriff and nine deputies, it
being as full and complete as the law
permits.