Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-07-18
BALLARD CLAIMS
he DID NOT CALL
LAWRENCE MAGILl
snecial Agent for Burlington
Denies That He Lined Up
Mitchell Brothers.
STRANGE PHONE MESSAGE
same One States Over Wire Witnesses
Are Fixed for Prosecution,
Claims the Defense.

A, attempt was made by the de-
- in the MagiIl- Bruner trial this
lining to connect James H Ballard,
-..cssI agent OF the Burlington Rail
= 20 with an open declaration that
- had succeeded in lining up the
,,i,cbeII brothers. William and John
e SIRE witnesses for the state. On
80 examination OF the witness on
,hs stand Attorney c. f. Dietz learned
bs Vas mistaken in his Prescriptions.
Tho alleged statement was communi-
,s;ed over the telephone TO the resi-
6erce OF L. NJ. Magiil in Moline, by
mistake. il is asserted. Ballard was
;,,roduced by the state as a witness in
furtherance OF proof in the CAMEL Tim
herman case. and the sharp change of
subiect was prompted by the defense
inst before the witness was dismissed
ballard admitted that since coming
IN Rock Island he had talked with Viii
liam and John Mitchell and their sis
tor Mrs Carrie Peters, all of whom
gave strong testimony for the state
Thursday afternoon. But he declared
the conversation was only general.
William Mitchell was arrested on a
charge of perjury preferred by Ma
gill
Ballard Numbered ont a loud NO.
sir when put the question regarding
the alleged conversation over the tele-
phone with some party in Mr.. Magilfs
residence. II has been learned that
Mr. Magill was not at home at the
time. but the statement I've got the
MtcheII's lined up was given to the
party who answered the telephone
The superstition is. according to those
on the side OF the defense. that who
ever IL was who called-it was thsught
the name given in the conversation
was Ballard-asked for the residence
Of the states attorney and connection
was made with the former states at
tOrneys telephone instead of the pres
ent special states attorney
New Angle.
A new angle of the states evidence
70 introduce proof of the conspiracy
between the sheriff and former states
attorney was drawn in the proceeding
this morning II is understood that
the evidence for the state in the Mitch
ell brothers case has practically been
completed, with the exception of one
witness who may not be called. Car
rying out the ruling of the court be
fore adjournment yesterday the prose
cution is now taking up details in an
other case bordering on which specific
overt acts in furtherance OF the alleged
conspiracy are charged.
The case which came to the atten-
ton OF the court was that of CAMEL
Zimmerman. against whom informa-
ton vas filed by Magill in county
court Nov. 30. 1912. the final day he was
IN the Office OF states attorney. Tim
norman was arrested Oh charges Of
larceny and robbery after being caught
red handed" in the act of breaking
into cars in the Burlington yards at
Barstow and stealing goods from them.
Zimmerman was captured by Ballard,
the railroads special agent, and B. L.
Richardson, colored Waterman in the
Burlington c. p. & Q. yards. both of
whom were on the witness stand to re-
late the testimony they offered when
Zimmerman was given a hearing in
Magistrate Smiths court, from which
the prisoner was bound over TO the
grand jury.
The state established proof of the
arrest OF Zimmerman through Ballard
and Richardson. Magistrate Smith
vas called to testify that he placed
the warrants and mittimuses in the
case, in an envelope which was sent to
the states attorneys Office. The rec
ord OF the case was then traced in the
testimony Of Peter Ingelson, former
assistant states attorney, who declar-
ed on direct and cross examination,
That he prosecuted the case for the
state and later was certain he handed
al the papers. including the transcript.
to Mr.. Magill.
Clarence Isaacson, deputy county
terk. was called 10 testify that the orig
nal bill Of information in this case was
% ME IN the county clerks office. He
slso could swear to the original jury