Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-03-31


offer any comment
No one fairly conversant with coun-
ty affairs, and having read Mr.. Ire
vor's statement needs any suggestions
TO see wherein Mr. Richmond has Ut.
terly failed to make out a case. This
is particularly apparent in the absence
of any adequate excuse for keeping the
committees testimony
out OF the hands Of the states attor-
ney. and later removing it from the
records. Mr.. Richmonds communica-
ton follows:
Rock Island, March %. Editor The
Argus:-C. S. Trevor. foreman of the
recent grand jury, in yesterdays pa
pers, throughout the county, had a !
lengthy article severely criticising the |
undersigned, and the special commit |
tee OF the board Of supervisors having F.
in charge the matter of the investtga- .
ton of the sherin's once and the .
board itself. This board and commit /
tee not being in session. feel justi- !
fed, in the interest Of fairness. in max F!
ing brief reply to Mr.. Trevor.
A reading Of Mr.. Trevor's article
shows TO what extent, and in what
spirit, Mr.. Trevor, as foreman Of the
grand jury, cooperated with the COM
mittee in its investigations.
But wherein does Mr.. Trevor find
room for criticising the committee
Did the committee suppress anything?
Did ii try to shield anybody? Did ii
fail to do everything within its power
10 make known the facts and bring any
any every guilty person to justice? He
can make no such charge.
He does say that we turned the evil
dence We had taken over 10 hinr with
a string attached TO il" and that We
refused to let this testimony so into
his Estates attorneys hands" Mr.
Trevor knows full well that the board.
by public resolution, fled with the
court and the grand jury, called the
grand jury's attention 10 the necessity
Of a thorough investigation. and ten
dered 10 the court and jury all the in
formation in the possession of the
committee. And we voluntarily turn
ed over to MIR. Trevor as foreman OF
the grand jury, all the evidence we had
fer such proper Use of il as could be
made by him. the jury. and the states
attorney: and they had it till the grand
jury adjourned. making such use of il
as they pleased. The only condition
We eXaCted was that il be properly
used. safely returned TO our custody,
and be not allowed 10 be used by those
whose conduct was under investiea-
ton. This evidence was laid by us
before the board and read in public
meeting, aud by the board turned back
to us subject to the further order of
the board.
But We are taken to task for trying
70 employ Messrs. c. j. SearIe of Rock
Island and {. F. Sturtz of Henry Coun-
~ as special states attorneys to con
duct the investigation and prOsecu-
tons. We thought and still think the
situation demanded that we get the
hest ability We could. and that We
tried to do. Mr.. Trevor takes occa
sion TO voice his great admiration OF
States Attorney Thompson and to
the disparagement of the gentlemen
We employed. The high professional
standing as public prosecutors of the
gentlemen We employed ought to be &
sufficient justification of our choice.
\ studied effort seems to be made
by Mr.. Trevor, as il has by others witt
whom he seems to be cooperating, L
convey the impression that this is
, mere fight between the board and The
,, states attorney. Nothing could b'
further from the truth. We can read
-, lily understand why persons under in
vestigstion should want such a falst
issue 70 be raised. But we do not Sc,
why the foreman of the grand jury
charged with the investigation, SHOULD
raise such an issue
; II is said that we have extravagant
~ expended $4,000 in making the il
vestieauCn. Judging from the tim
=, taken ard expenses incurred by tn
grand jury, in going as far as they die
II can be seen that the amount state
> vas not eXtravagsnt But il must b
remembered that this $4,000 was mere
~ an appropriation the board set asd
for the investigation, provided it wa
e permitted 10 make such investigation
= Every dollar of the money is still j
l the county treasury. charged with on
: the small expense incurred in the a,
lion We have taken.
/ But the opportunity is seized to b,
= Iats the board for falling 10 provid
e such assistants TO the states actorne
n as he asks. Why should this so co
IF Germ Mr.. Trevor? What has that
d, do with the investigation Througho,
n his term he has had the assistance
ar the person OF his own choosing, VI
/ McEliry. So that the failure OF u
board to provide for an assistai
If states attorney has had no effe
whatever on the investigation tt
board, under the law, has perhaps I
s power 70 name an assistant states Z
8 torney; but it does have an interest
1t the matter and It does have the s;
re as 10 how many assistants there sht
X be and what their salaries shall b
~ The papers have been filled with {
he icles showing the necessity Of sever
assistant states attorneys and nc
many this and that county has. T
L An la It