Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-05-12
POUNDS AWAY
ON SAME Line
States Attorney Wayman Con
tinues Efforts to Involve
Wheelan.
IN THE BRIBERY MEsHES
G. c. Wenger. Tom Cox and j. X.
Scott Examined in Effort to
Pick Flaw in Testimony.

Efforts to get something on Repre-
sentative H. L. Wheelan of Rock Is
land again took up a large part of the
time of the legislative graft grand
jury at Chicago yesterday Witnesses
examined were G. c. Wenger, attorney
for Mrs. Elizabeth Bender in the sale
of the property on Fourth avenue that
Mr.. Wheelan bought last fall; j. K.
Scott, who is said to have testified as
to the organization of the Boos Motor
Fan company in which Mr.. Wheelan
is interested, and Tom Cox, former
city detective, from whom, it is as
serted, Mr.. Wheelan borrowed money.
Mr.. Cox, under the third degree"
methods used in the grand jury room,
is said to have been overcome, but raj
lied in a few minutes, and from all ac-
counts that have gotten to the public
nothing really duplicating Mr.. Wheelan
in the Lorimer scandal was devel-
oped.
Scott Reveals Plan.
Mr.. Scott, after leaving the witness
stand, is quoted by the Tribune as
saying:
ut is perfectly plain to me what
SACy are Trying u No. L ne lu0d Is 10
get a representative to tell his story
and then call in a lot of others and
question all along the same line. Then
If someone inadvertently says some
thing that doesn't quite agree with a
former witness about some immaterial
matter they expect to make it a basis
for perjury charges.
Now, l was up there a little while
this afternoon and 1 have got to go
back tomorrow. They don't want me
to go home because | might see some
witness they have under subpoena to
come up here to testify. I'm getting
tired of this hanging around doing
nothing.
THE motor company organization
was touched on, but it is not a part of
the inquiry. as the organization was
made couple of months after the oc-
currence of the things they are trying
to get information about Representa-
tive Wheelan is president of the COM
pany. You must remember though. /
that 1t doesn't take much money to
start a company like this No, l
haven't seen Mr.. aWheelan since have !
been in the city. 1 think he is still in
town, though. He has nothing to be
afraid of in this Investigation"
The other Rock Island witnesses re-
fused to talk to reporters beyond the |
statement by Mr. Wenger that he had |
frankly told all he knew. /
Summarizes Situation.
Mr.. SCOTS statement yesterday and !
Tuesday seems to summarize the situa-
Tin
Wheelan was no doubt questioned in /
great detail as to his business affairs |
Others whom he named were then |
called in and examined at equal length. |
If, for any reason the testimony con-
fiicts a basis will be laid for the in /
dictment of the representative for per-
jury, If for nothing more. With this |
as a leverage further attempts will 1
be made to secure a confession if /
there is anything to confess. If no
confession follows the Indictment can
later be quashed. In the meantime |
other democrats will be subjected to
the same process. 1t may be pretty
hard on the victims, who, whether
with or without just cause are thus
placed under suspicion, but it seems
to have been the plan adopted 20
get" Lorimer without besmirching
those whom it is desired to shield.
So far the attempt to open the new
Lead to men higher UP has not been
particularly productive and the Tri-
bune. which is taking the lead in push
ing the investigation admits that as a
member of the Tippet wing of the
democratic legislators Mr.. Wheelan is
not likely tc have been in on the Jack
pot or to have received money
through Minority Leader Browne.
Republicans Under Suspicion, Too.
The conspicuous efforts of the Cook
county states attorney to shield the
members of the legislature
will hardly meet with the approval of
fair minded people. 1t is hardly con-
ceivable that the democratic members
were more susceptible to temptation
Fzzl.s.-..-...--a..'.