Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-06-22
States Attorney Files Affidavit
Answering Charges Made
by G. S. Petit.
NEVER SHIELDED MAGILL
Had Already Called Witnesses to In
vestisate Alleged Corruption
When He Is Dismissed.

I Graves, Geneseo, in circuit court
There was an imposing array of Legal
talent present, including George w
| Wood. special states attorney, and c.
| b.. Marshall, for the prosecution: and
]. T. and S. r. Kenworthy, J. X Scott
Dietz & Dietz. H. NJ. Schriver, w. r.
Moore and William Meese for the de.
Tense.
The morning was spent in reading
affidavits which had been filed in sup
port of the motion to quash. The feat
ure was the counter-affidavit of States
Attorney F. Z. Thompson, filed this
morning. in which he strenuously de-
MES certain assertions made by c. S.
Petit, foreman of the January grand
Jury which returned the indictments
| in question. in which the county prose-
cutor was charged with shielding L. NJ.
Magill, former states attorney.
He alleges among other things. that
he never at any time, refused to call
any witness which the said grand
jury, or any member thereof, asked
him TO call, or TO go into a single mat
ter which the said grand jury, or any
member thereof. asked him to go into,
or of which he had notice or knowl-
edge
Fairly Presented.
Affidavit further says that he fully,
fairly and impartially presented to
said grand jury all matters, facts and
evidence which in his opinion was
worthy of consideration, or which in
his opinion would justify or warrant,
or tend to justify or warrant. the re-
turning OF an indictment by said grand
jury in the matter OF official corrup-
tion in said Rock Island county which
had come to his knowledge or notice
and that as a result, the said grand
jurors, prior to the said goth day of
January a. ID. 1914, as aforesaid, re-
turned and presented five true bills
against Oscar l.. Bruner. the sheriff
of Rock Island county. and also re-
suited in returning and presenting by
said grand jurors of IL not true bills
against said Oscar L. Bruner, but
that true bills were returned in each
of these II instances with Mr.. Wood
as special prosecutor, Lawrence NJ.
Magill being implicated in all of them.
Continuing the affidavit AYERS: Aft
davit further says II is not true, as
stated in the affidavit of one c. S. Pet
tie filed herein in the above entitled
cause on the 18th day of June a. ID.
1914. that the members of the said
grand jury requested this affiant, as
said states attorney, to assist said
grand jury in making an investigation |
of official misconduct of Lawrence NJ. |
AIagill and other persons connected |
herewith. and that it is not true, as
stated in the said affidavit of the said |
Petit, that his affiant informed the
members of said grand jury that he
had investigated and had come TO the !
conclusion that Lawrence NJ. Magill |
was not guilty of any crimes, felonies
DR. misdemeanors and that II is not
true, as stated in the said affidavit OF
The said Petit, that this affiant re-
fused to carry on any such investiga-
ion. and affiant further says that II is
not true that he was interested in the
said Lawrence VI. MagiIl or in any of
said other persons, or in any crime
committed or charged to have been
committed by them, or by either of
hem"
Willing to Investigate.
"AfIiant further says that he stated
o Petit and to the said grand
ury. that he was willing to make any
of official misconduct of
lawrence NJ. Magill. or OF any other
,fIicial of Rock Island county, or OF any
,ther person or persons connected
herewith, which said grand jury
hould or might request, and that he,
he said affiant, was willing to call any
md all witnesses which the said grand ]
ury should or might request, and to :
.ssist the said grand jurors in every
yay in order to enable him TO make a ;
ull, complete and impartial investiga- ;
ion OF the official corruption and Off l
ial misconduct and that this affiant
hen and there began and undertook {
n investigation OF the official miscon-
uct and of the charges made against &
he said Lawrence NJ. Magill, and in /
pursuance thereof, subpoenaed before &
rand jury then and there some six !
T eight witnesses, which IL was de- 7
ded by this affiant and by the said 7
rand Jurors and certain members /
hereof had a conference concerning
aid charges, as will more fully and at I
urge appear from the subpoena issued |
Or said witnesses filed in the said cir
nit court and titled The People
I the States OF Illinois VS. Lawrence
Magill.' and that said witnesses o ,
Ibpoenaed 10 give testimony before :
aid grand Jurors then and there, and :
lis affiant was then and there pre- Z
AIRED and willing TO present testimony -.
Z such witnesses for the purpose of =
aking and completing such investiga-
on OF official corruption in Rock Is
nd county and OF the said charges
,ainst the said Lawrence VI. Magill.
I'd that one OF the said witnesses
as actually called by this affiant and
fore said grand jury and said wit
.ss was then and there about TO be
,amined by this affiant. as such wit
,ss. AZ one OF the regular sessions of ,
q said grand jury then and there.
N that thereupoD the said Petit as v