Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-11-01
is He BETRAYED
BY HIS DEPUTIES?
Reasonable Excuse Friends of
Kittilsen Place on Conduct
of His Office.
FACTS KEPT FROM HIM
Subordinates the Friends of Gam
blers Deceive Their Chief as
to Real Conditions.

Apropos of the laxity OF the forces
Of the present sheriff in dealing with
the gambling evil in Rock Island, there
IS but one explanation that can be of.
fered in defense of the regularly elect
ed official whose term is now drawing
to a close. and The Argus, bearing him
no personal i'll feeling, cheerfully gives
him the benefit of it. II is that, wheth-
err knowingly or not, he has been mis-
led in many of his subordinates; has
placed too much confidence in them
and for that confidence has been paid
in what would ordinarily be called
shameful betrayal.
The suggestion has not infrequently
been made in Mr.. Kittilsen's defense
that he has been woefully deceived by
men in the subordinate positions on
his staff on whom he would naturally
rely for loyalty both to him and to the
people of the county, whose servants
they are. To get down TO brass lacks
Mr.. Kittilsen has not been getting
what is known as square deal at all
times from at least some of his sub
ordinates. A narration of some facts
and circumstances will serve TO bear
out this theory.
Had Record.
Mr.. Kittilsen had long and success
full record in the Moline police depart
ment, both as subordinate and chief
before he was elected 10 the shirley,
atty. His friends in Moline, where he
was best known, had reason TO believe
that he would serve his county with
the same degree of efficiency that he
had his home city. He gave promise
that he would do so. His friends be
heved that he meant what he said
Throughout his four years in the sher
IFS Office no one has personally charg
ed dishonesty against Mr.. Kittilsen
The Argus was familiar with Mr.. Kit
tiisen's Moline police record. It shar
ed the belief of his home friends that
he would make an efficient county Of
fcer
It was only few months after he
had taken the reins at the sheriff's Of
fee that Mr. KittilSen SwOOped down
upon a gambling table that had for
merly been in operation here. Ii was
carted to the court house, exhibited 10
the public several days. and then de
stroyed, as all gambling parapherna
liza should, upon an order of the court
Mr.. Kittilsen was given due credit
through the public press. After that
two raids followed. one the reforma
tory act Of the sheriff, and the other
by force Of circumstances, as has al
ready been related in detail. Volun-
tarily he informed The Argus that he
was uneQuivocalIy opposed to public
gambling. and he would show no quar-
ter TO the gentry OF this profession
during his administration of the office
of sheriff. The Argus had no reason
to question the sincerity Of Mr.. Kittil-
sen. and it did not do so The public
is familiar with the events Of the sue,
ceeding three years which. from the
standpoint of gambling and open law
lessness, have been the blacklist in the
history of Rock Island county.
a Few Questions.
Ali of this gives rise 20 few peril
nent inquiries:
When a Davenport citizen was ar
rested in the office OF the sheriff on
a charge of gambling because he com
planned that he had been robbed in the
Billberg den, over the Park saloon on
Twentieth street. were the sherif's Of
fcers acting for the taxpayers of Rock
Island county?
When Deputy Sheriff Dick Carnes
at the command of the gam
blers. hurried from the office OF
the sheriff with warrant and arrest.
ed Constable August Schmid on the
public thoroughfares of Rock Island
when the latter officer was about to
destroy a pile of gambling fixtures
was Carnes acting for the taxpayers
and the fathers and mothers of Rock
Island county?
When Deputy Sheriff Phil Miller
told Attorney John Hauberg. when the
later appealed 10 the sheriff's office
for help in conducting a raid upon the
Bilberg den. that he was too busy
then. was Miller acting for the tax.
payers and the homes Of Rock Island
county?
The Argus is satisfied TO leave the
answering of these questions to the
intelligent citizens of Rock Island
county.
SheriT's Eyes Opened.
Some days after Billberg. Mcbride
a-d The Schaums were enabled to re-
plevin their gambling fixtures which
had been seized in the Law and Order
League raids and have them hauled
a-d placed in storage in Davenport