Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-03-27
THE STRIFE over
CRAFT CHARGES
Wherein the Board of Super
visors Attacks Action of
the Grand Jury.

Much interest is being taken by the
citizens Of Rock Island county in the
question oIleinDute between the board
Of superyisd. And the grand jury.
The proceedhggs On this question of
the board. as published, contain in part
the following:
The proceedings of the grand jury
being secret and our attorneys tmean-
ing Messrs. Searle of Rock Island and
Surtz of Henry county being allowed
to take no part in the investigation of
the preparation Uf the Indictment. or
having access TO the grand jury room,
were not in a position to report spe-
ciGlly, just what cases were investi-
gated. nor to what extent the wit
nCsses were called, and what not. nor
how far prosecuted. But We deem it
proper at this time to report our above
actions 70 your honorable body. to-
Eether with the evidence taken by US,
upon which we predicated our action,
so that you can the better judge the
gravity OF the situation disclosed by
such evidence
1t. is further found in the same pro
ceedings the following: Supervisor
Stow moved that the special investiga-
ting committee be directed TO retain
all papers and evidence collected in
iJs investigation until further instruc-
uCn by the board, which was carried"
Section 10 Of chapter 80 Of the re
yiSed statutes provides that the county
clerk shall act as the clerk of the
county board, and keep an accurate
record Of the proceedings of said
board, hence, when the committee re
ported the evidence to the board of
supervisors. this evidence became a
record Of the board, and under the
law II is the duty of the county clerk
20 keep this evidence so that it may
be- seen by any citizen. County Clerk
Henry B. Hubbard informs The Argus
-hat il is not on file in his Office Mr.
Stow has undertaken by his motion TO
withdraw from the record a matter
that concerns the public, and a matter
which has cost the tax payers of this
county, as we are informed. not less
than s. 200, which he has no warrant
TO do under the law. But, whether
right or wrong under the law, why
does Mr. Stow, and the other mem
beers Of the board, withdraw this evi-
deuce from the public record? Since
IL IS a matter concerning the public Of
fCials Of Rock Island county. the PEG
pie have a right 70 know what it con
rains. and especially since the board
OF supervisors critcises the actions Of
the grand jury for not finding other
indictments. The people have a right
10 know what evidence this committee
found and II II sustains the commit
tee in its conclusions against the grand
jury. the people want 70 know It
II is said upon high authority there
is nothing in this report OF evidence
o. the committee tending even to show
that any other public Official except
the sheriff has been guilty Of malfeas-
anoe in Office. and since the sheriff
has been indicted by the grand jury
there is no reason for keeping it from
The public.
The people are very much exercised
about this matter, and unless the
board OF supervisors can sustain its
/ charges against the grand jury in fail
ing 10 perform its duty. every member
who hss taken part il this charge
] against the grand jury ought 10 be