Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-02-28
SHERIFF BRUNER INDICTED MANY
TIMES. BY THE GRAND JURY
Final Report of Investigating
Body Is Made in Circuit
Court This Morning.
OFFICERS BAIL $4,000
Presents Himself Before Judge This
Afternoon With 5ondsmen-3s
True Bills Against Him.

A44 LF-tI6nl indictments against
Sheriff o. L. Bruner we're returned in
the circuit court this morning by the
grand jury when il MADE its final re-
port to Judge X. ". Olmsted There
were other indictments against other
men, but with the exception OF a few
charges Of perjury against East Mo
line saloon keepers, none Of the true
bills grew out OF the alleged graft in
the sheriff Office which has been the
principal matter before the jury in its
long session.
Sheriff Bruner is indicted 81 times
for escape which legally means for
permitting prisoners to leave his GUS
tody before the expiration OF their
term OF Incarceration. In 10 of these
cases the bail is $4,000 on each in
dictment and the prisoners whom it
is alleged he allowed 10 leave the Jail
are: John Boyd, Thomas Wagner,
Martha Turner, Fred Bray. Tom
Hayes. Hayward Howell. George Nc
Cain, Edward Ottens, Rowley Brown,
May Black, Ella Sheets, Fred Ander-
son, VIII Thomas, Curley Black and
Charles Johnson.
In 10 indictments in which the bond
is $1,000 in each, It is alleged that the
sheriff permitted the following prison
ers to escape: Almedo Boyd. Thomas
x Stark. John Cupp. Augusten Laugh
inghouse, Albert Smart, Madge Smith,
Pietri Stancampanio, Hazel Nelson,
Dwight o. Clapp, Malvin King, Mart
Nolan. Harry Cheney. George Mar
shall, Jacob Ohutski Harry Manawar.
ing and Phil Fraker.
In the other seven indictments
against him, the sheriff is charged
with obtaining money from the county
by false pretenses. In these cases he
is charged with collecting board
money for prisoners who were not in
the jail. The prisoners named in
these seven indictments are: Rowley
Brown. Rose Taylor John Boyd Har-
ry williams, Edward Ottens, Andrew
Kohl and VIII Thomas.
DEPUTIES ARE WITNESSES.
For the most part, the sheriff's dep
titles and eX-deputies are the princi-
pal witnesses against him. In add.
tion the Witnesses include the com.
hitting magistrate in the cases where
escape is alleged and in some Of the
cases various of the police officers of
Rock Island were called in by the
grand jury. George II. Richmond.
chairman Of the board of supervisors
is also a witness in most Of the cases
BEUNEH GIVES BONDS.
Sheriff Bruner. on being apprised OF
his Indictment. was driven 10 the
court house in an automobile at
o'clock this afternoon and gave bonds
before Judge Olmsted in the circuit
court iu the sum Of $4,000 the bonds
men being George Wagner, Rock Is
land. Albert Hofer. ex-supervisor. An
dalusia George w. Johnson, Moline
G n Patterson, Edgington, w. II
Miller. Taylor Ridge and j b. Tit
teringtou, Rock Island
The bail was originally S53, 900, bu
WAS cut IN half by the court. Mr.
Bruner met Coroner X. c. J. Meye
IN the corridor as he entered the cour
house and at once accepted servic,
without making II necessary that Tn,
Cipiasos be- read
When asked by an Argus represen
tative concerning the Indictment
against him. Sheriff Bruner replied
81 am not surprised OF course. knew
what was coming. No man could hav
lived in Rock Island during the pas
few months without knowing I d,
not care 20 discuss the Indictment
further az this time. except TO sa
that they are the result Of a politjca
conspiracy. The charges had thei
origin IN a clique that has been hound
ing me ever since ] entered the oil
fee Of sheriff There has been 10
OF talk about how / would wreak yer
Ceunce ON the county and upon othe
county officials In the event Of my il
dlCtmcut There Is nothing 70 thai
] am not crying out for reveng
against anyone and ! certainly woul
adopt no course that would briu
hardship on the county | propos
20 fight those cases. Of course. and z
establish my innocence. but I am nc
going 20 attempt 20 drag anyone els
down or 20 embarrass the county @
anyone whether a public official q
otherwise who If doing his duty Ths
IS all ] have to say Just now"
JURY At WORK. Long TINE.
The report OF the grand jury SHOW
cd that 10 had been in session 80 day
that II investig gated l43 matters. e.
amined the enormous total OF 6s7 wi
nesses. returned 81 true bills. igno
ed 81 complaints and left many case
i'm which there was a dearth OF ey
deuce TO be investigated by a futul
grand jury.
In the list OF ignored cases wei
the allegations against members Of n
board Of supervisors who were char
ed with bribery and with making
legal contracts with the county. II
jury believed that there was no criI
inal intent on the part OF the supe
visors who sold things 10 the count
and acted accordingly. States Alto
ney F. r Thompson states that
is his intention TO go before the boal
az its next meeting and advise q
supervisors as TO what the law sa,
relative TO their entering into co
tracts with the county.
THE IGNORED CASES.
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