Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-08-15
Webber and VaIlon War
ned Not to Expose
Higher-Ups.
WILL LET BECKER SINK
Grand Jury Fails to Return Ex-
peCted Indictment in RoS-
enthaI Case.

New York, Aug. 5.-Threatened
with death if they revealed informa-
tlon regarding three men higher up"
in the gambling graft scandal, Bird
gle" Weber and Harry Vallon NAV
prove recalcitrant witnesses. Webber
ard Vallon have been reached" and
told, according TO Vallon's counsel, to
throw Police Lieutenant Becker to
the wolves" but 10 shield the names
of three men now regarded by the
states attorney as directors of the
graft system. In the confession of
Bald Jack" Rose as prepared by the
gambler for District Attorney Whit
man and printed today, Rose declares
Becker had decided to kill Rosenthal
himself if others had not done the
work. The states attorney learned
that within year one police inspector
invested 100000 in choice uptown
lots.
NEW EVIDENCE AWAITED.
After a session of two hours today
the Rosenthal grand jury notified Dis
trict Attorney Whitman they did not
feel warranted in handing up further
indictments charging murder in the
first degree until they heard more evil
dence More evidence is expected to
come from Sam Schepps, on his way
from Hot Springs. The turn of af-
fairs came suddenly after Assistant
they had a practically complete case"
against all defendants before the
grand jury.
HAVE VIGILANCE COMMITTEE.
The resolute determination of the
Citizens OF New York TO rid their po-
lice force Of its system of graft and
blackmail was given fOrcible express
sion last night at a mass meeting
held at Cooper Union when they ap-
pointed a vigilance committee of prom
inent women and men to see that the
public officers now engaged in expos
ing the reasonable alliance of the
police with organized crime" do their
full duty. The committee was en-
powered to collect funds and employ
counsel in the prosecution of the fight
against graft.
WHITMAN GIVEN OVATION.
District Attorney Whitman was
the hero of the hour" and received
a tremendous ovation when he rose
to speak. When Mr. Whitman finally
began his speech he was frequently
interrupted by spontaneous cries of
approval which had not been given TO
the other speakers until they had fin
ished their addresses.
Il want 10 say just this" said Mr..
Whitman with regard TO the matter
which | know is near your hearts, as
II is near mine, with regard to a
crime that has shocked this city and
shocked this nation, perhaps as few
crimes have in the history of the city,
or in the history of the nation. The
killing Of Herman ROsenthal was a
murder, of course, an awful murder
but ii was more than that. In the
light OF all circumstances connected
with it, il was a challenge to our very
civilization itself
CHALLENGE TO NATION.
1T is not question OF who or what
ROsenthal was, or who may be mayor
or who may de district attorney;
men who may or may not have been
accomplices. 1t is a question of wheth-
er it is possible for four hired murd-
erers 10 commit an atrocious crime in
the heart of this city and get liesurely
away. Unfortunately. these are the
conditions. AS l said before. that is
the challenge to the civilized nation
Of the goth century TO the city of New
York, and / appreciate tonight. Iadies
and gentlemen, that you have accept
ed the challenge, as / knew you would
And the police OF the city. an1
the police department Of the CITY an /
the district attorneys office OF the
county, and the courts of New York
are going to unite on this propositio n
TO demonstrate TO the people Of the
world that the man does not live.
whoever he may be, who in the CITY
Of New York, can with impunity. set
at defiance, the majesty. dignity, aud
the sovereignty OF the law
Hot Springs, Ark, Aug. I5-Snm
/ Schepps, wanted as a material Wit
ness in the Rosenthal case, left FOR
New York city this morning in charge
/ OF Assistant District Attorney Rubin.