Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-04-01
ANOTHER LETTER
Attorney Phil Wells Again Ad-
dresses Governor on Gen
eva School Matter.
RECITES THE KNOWN FACTS
Repeats Offer to Submit Further Cor
roborative Evidence of Cruel
Practices.

AttOIHey RIM ells, VIM 10 III
terested in the investigation of the
Geneva training school for girls, has
addressed the following self-explan-
atory letter to Governor Deneen,
and another of similar import to
Thomas O'Connor of Peoria, MEM
Der of the state board of administra-
ton:
Rock Island, ILL.,, March 81, 1911.
Hon Charles S. Deneen, Spring
no reply to several letters l have
written you recently concerning af-
fairs at the Geneva State Training
School for Girls. Your secretary
wrote to me last week stating that
you were out of the city, but that
when you returned on Monday of
this present week you would an
swer my communications. Your
secretary was evidently mistaken.
While 1t is true that when l first
received these statements from
Emma Petersen and Minnie Hobert
I did not lay the matter Immediately
before you or your board of admin
istration (my reason for not doing
so being apparently since justified
by the recent mysterious destruc-
ton of the straight chairs pend
ing a so-called investigation" that
understand is now going on) yet
when Mr.. O'Connor and Mr.. Virden
came to Rock Island in regard to the
matter, I. although sick at the time,
came down to the Harper house and
did everything in my power to CO.
operate with them and assist them
in procuring the witnesses. Fur
thermore. l, at the request of these
two gentlemen, willingly went on the
witness stand and fully and freely
answered a host of impertinent and
irrelevant questions which they
chose to ask me concerning my con-
nection with the case and my motives
for proceeding in the manner l had
chosen.
WAS NOT ON TRIAL.
So far as l know l was not on
trial at the time, and not under lin
vestigation" at the hearing, I'M
less it were by Mr.. O'Connor and
Mr.. Virden acting upon their own in
itiative or under instructions. Mr..
O'Connor, 1 believe, IL my memory
is correct, went so far as to ask me
concerning the amount of the fee I
was receiving from the Hoberts-a
matter which certainly was no con-
Germ of his or anyone else.
] have written to you concerning
the destruction of these straight
chairs" at this particular time and
] have also written to- L. Y. Sher-
man and Mr.. O'Connor with the re-
suit that ! can get no information
from any of you. Ever since DR..
Green wrote that first letter admit
ting the destruction of the straight
chairs" while this so-called 'investi- !
cation" was supposed to be pro-
ceeding, there has been a deep and |
awful silence, unbroken except by |
one short letter from DIR. Green. |
stating that he had referred my COM |
to Judge Sherman for !
reply. but containing no information |
whatever. 1t is needless for me to |
remark that the judge has not re
Piled
The reason for the destruction Of /
these straight chairs Just now, as
we'll as the person or persons re-
sponsible for ordering them destroy
I'd, still remains a deep and unsolved
mystery l think that the general
public. as we'll as myself as an in
lividual. has a right to be informed
upon this matter of the straight
hairs" Are you not of the same
opinion?
MORE EVIDENCE OFFERED.
I have offered TO submit to your
board OF administration additional
corroborating the state
nents of Minnie Hobert and Emma
Petersen. but have received no re-
'ly to my letters. Is not this evil
Ience wanted7
I sincerely trust that I may hear
rom you concerning the destruction
f these straight chairs" at your
and that you will defin-
-eiy inform me why it was done
nd who was responsible for it.
Respectfully.
PHILIP H. WELLS.