Rock Island Argus., 1914-05-09
COURT BLOCKS AN
ATTEMPT OF JURY
T0PROLONG MEET
Request of Inquisitors to Re-
convene June 1 Is Denied by
Judge Olmsted.
LONG DELAY UNNECESSARY
Urge Erection Of New County Jail and
Commend States Attorney
Thompson in Report.

Members of the grand jury for the
May term OF circuit court were blocked
in their attempt to take an adjourn
ment yesterday afternoon until June
l, by Judge r. w. Olmsted In a writ
ten report the secret body asked fur
ther time to investigate certain cases,
where witnesses had disappeared, but
the court denied the request, on the
/ ground that so long a delay was un-
necessary.
IF the jury has further bust
ness TO transact. complete It before
I you adjourn" advised the court.
When the jury reported at 4:45
Judge Olmsted asked States Attorney
F. z. Thompson if there were still
matters pending before the body. The
county prosecutor replied there were
several cases. one of which was mere
~ a misdemeanor, for which he could
draw an information in county court
He said some of the witnesses were
missing. Another was a felony. THE
evidence is all in said Mr.. Thomp-
son. but the jury has not seen fit to
vote on it,
Extraordinary Request.
This is an extraordinary request /
which the jury makes replied the |
court. Il can see no good reason why |
the body should desire to adjourn un- 1
Ill June L.
E. ID. Fisher, the foreman, was ask
ed for information, and he said the in
vestigation of certain cases had not
been completed and that additional
time in which to conduct the same was
desired
Il understand the states attorney
will be busy next week with criminal
cases, and we thought it would be ex-
pedient TO postpone our deliberations
until after he was through" said Mr..
Fisher.
II will excuse the jury for the term,
and you need nor return, unless the
court finds it necessary to recall you"
plainly stated the court
So confident was the secret body
that the court would allow a reconven-
ing the first of next month. that the
report which was submitted designated
It as partial finding. to resume June
L. The jury established a record that
is as unique as that of last term. IN )
the present instance, the body has
been in session since Monday, just ,
five days, while at the previous ses-
sion the diligent investigators found it
necessary to continue their probe from
the first Monday in January to May l, e
the entire term. O
Faith in Thompson.
The jury in its report expressed be- !.
ief in the integrity of the county pros .
,cutor and also declared in favor of :,
he erection of a new county Jail, the a
PRESENT structure being called breed n
ng place for tuberculosis" The re- r
'ort follows:
I'VE. the grand jurors of the May
erm of circuit court, in presenting this q
'artial report, and in adjourning until a
Ionday. June l, 1914. desire TO pre- s.
ent to the court these facts, actuated G
v desire to expedite the work of in u
uiring into the criminal matters which 81
hould properly come before this body, N
D the end that the tax money of this :
ounty shall be conserved, we have
one forward with as little delay as
ossible consistent with thorough ex- I
mination with our inquiry into all
latters that have been presented 10
9.
I'VE have in FIVE days disposed of
II bind-over cases with the exception
four where additional witnesses are >,
esired. and when we reassemble we =
i'll take up our work with our docket
ractically clear 70 inquire into spe-
al matters that may demand our at
'ntion.
Want New Jail.
Desiring to cooperate with the coun-
board of Rock Island county. and Of
slieving, in view OF the fact that the r.
eople of Rock Island county are soon Is
be asked 70 vote on the bond issue IS
r a new and modern jail, one that IS
III meet the needs of this county, I#
Id that will embody humanitarian IS
cas-, we have prior to this adjourn Is
ent appointed our entire body as a I
mmittee TO investigate our county IS
H. Reports as 10 our beliefs as TO
nat is desirable In the way of housing
d working the county prisoners is
ade as a special report herewith at all
ched ne
We desire at this time TO express bn
the people or ROCK lsiahd county, RI
rough the circuit court. our belief Rs
the integrity of the states attorney
d to publicly express our apprecia- ,
m for the aid he has given us in 81 %,
rrying forth the aim of this investt- .,
ting body" be
Should Work Prisoners. lar
That the prisoners in county jail we
1uld be given work, was the opinion are
pressed in the report of the jury on me
, investigation OF conditions at the hf'
n.