Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-04-29
DENIED CITY JOB,
ENTERS CHARGES
L. N. Bourdeau Alleges Jonas
Bear Violated Commits
sion Election Law.
NISsEN ISSUES WARRANT
Justice Declines a Change of Venue,
Whereupon Defendant With
draws from Court

Justice George P. Nissen yesterday
afternoon issued a warrant, sworn 10
by L. y. Dourdeau, one of the unsuc.
cessful candidates in the recent pri-
mary election, charging Commissioner
Jonas Bear with having violated the
section of the commission form of
government relating to elections. The
warrant was served by Constable Pc
ter ]. Heverling.
Bourdeau claims that Mr.. Bear paid
him money TO act as poll worker for
him at the election which followed the
primary and that in addition he was
promised Job as superintendent of
waterworks.
During the early part Of the week
Mr.. Bourdeau appeared before the
municipal commission and made
charges that Mr. Bear had endeav-
ored to enlist his support during the
election campaign by paying the sal
airy OF one of Bourdeau's men while
the latter worked for him, with the
understanding that he (Bourdeau)
was TO be superintendent of water
works in the event of Mr.. Bears cleo
ton. The commission, however, after
hearing Mr.. Bourdeau.. decided to give
no credence to his allegations individ-
ually and TO assume no jurisdiction
in the premises officially.
OTHERS REFUSE WARRANT.
Mr.. Bourdeau then visited States
Attorney l. NJ. Magill, who refused to
place credence in the charge. The
complainant next sought to have A
warrant sworn out against Mr. Bear.
It is understood that no justice other
than Nissen would issue it.
At $50 this morning Commissioner
Bear, with his attorney. c. B. Mar
shall of SearIe & Marshall, ap-
peared before Justice Nissen
and executed an affidavit calling for
change of venue. Nissen refused TO
grant the change, despite the fact that,
as Attorney Marshall pointed out, the
statute says it must be done. Justice
Nissen gave as his reason for refusing
the change that differences against the
integrity of his court had been made
and that in addition 10 this ''insinua-
lions have been made that the other
justices have been fixed and
wouldn't know who l could send the
d
LEAVE COURT IN DISGUST.
Assistant States Attorney George
c. Wenger was present, and after con-
siderable wrangling Justice Nissen or
dered the prosecution to start. Il
want TO say to you Justice Nissen,
that you are proceeding here in an
arbitrary manner and in defiance of
all law and practice of law" said At
torney Marshall. The statute plainly
gives every man accused Of crime
the right to a change of venue. and
you have presumed TO take this right
away from us arbitrarily. | suppose
you will go ahead here and bind Mr..
Bear over TO the grand jury, but let
me tell you, as sure as there is God
OF Israel, you and your bondsmen
shall suffer If you violate the law. We
are going TO my office and you can
find us there" Mr.. Marshall then left
the room. accompanied by his client,
who upon the advice OF Mr.. Marshall,
ignored the order of the court 10 re-
main.
J. K. Scott is acting as attorney
for Mr.. Bourdeau. Mr.. Bear asserts
that both Messrs. Bourdeau and
Scott are seeking revenge because OF
disappointment in securing city posi-
tions.
DECLARES BOND DEFAULTED.
Justice Nissen, after Mr.. Bears de-
parture. decided that the commission
er's $1,000 bond TO assure his appear
ance was defaulted and he made entry
10 that effect IN his docket. He also T.
ordered the case continued until May
!. Ira II. Buffum and J. B. Eckhart /
signed the bond last night.