Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-01-28
THOMPSON TURNS
GRAND JURY over
TO GEORGE WOOD
States Attorney Makes State
ment to Secret Body Ex-
planning Position.
WELCOMES INVESTIGATION
Declares He Wants Probe to Be Thor
ough-ChaIIenges Accusers to
Present Evidence.

In turning over the grand jury to
! Special Prosecutor George w. Wood,
Moline. States Attorney F. E. Thomp-
son this afternoon made an address to
the secret body in which he stated that
he welcomed the proposed investiga-
ton, so far as it might concern him,
and challenged his accusers to present
their evidence or keep their peace.
Mr.. Thompson said:
Mr. Foreman and Gentlemen of the
Grand Jury: Although / do not in any
particular recognize the legality of
your recent action or the action of the
Honorable Robert w. Olmsted, circuit
judge, in the appointment of a special
states attorney, / now yield to your
pleasure. The statute provides that
whenever the states attorney is in
terested in any criminal cause or pro-
ceeding which it may be his duty to
prosecute, the court in which such |
cause or proceeding is pending. may |
appoint some competent attorney to |
prosecute such cause or proceeding.
Must Make Proof. I
Hence, the law makes it a question |
of fact to be judicially determined by |
the COuil NuClAACl vi hOl Tie SldlC , /
attorney is interested in the criminal
cause. Before this question of fact
can be determined there must be some
specific allegation or charge made
against the states attorney in some
specific matter. In the appointment
of the special states attorney recently
made by Judge Olmsted, there was not
a single specific allegation of fact,
showing that l was interested in any
cause or proceeding. There was no
evidence whatever heard by Judge I
in determining this question ;
Of fact. Not a word was said in sup ;
port of the petition filed with the court.
Yet Judge Olmsted, presiding as a
court, determined that l was inter {
ested in the prosecution of a criminal :
matter. without hearing any evidence
whatever. This is certainly an I'M
act of the court, and one :
without warrant of any law. 1
Preposterous Charge.
On the surface. the charge in this
natter is that 1 am protecting crooks.
This charge is so preposterous that
iced not deny it. The reason this petit
ion was filed is not because l am pro-
Getting crooks, but because have 5
,ersistently refused to protect the
rocks. l have endeavored to hew to Q
he line. and have not permitted my :
'fice 70 be prostituted by favors and
'rejudice. My record in this matter
peaks for itself.
a year ago, when I entered the Of
ice of states attorney. this county IL
eethed and boiled with corruption D
II, oh III
he air. Without authorized assist
nts and without system in my Office,
was forced into an investigation of II
fcial corruption Immediately after
ntering Office. For eight weeks /
evidence to the grand jury b
( January, 1913. regarding conditions
4 official circles in this county. ;.
allied every witness that was sug- +
ested to me by any one Many of
lem knew nothing about matters on
hich they were called. and many of :, =,
lem could give us nothing but hear "
~. This searching investigation re ee
lIted in the Indictment of the sheriff "
Rock Island county. Despite my *
ersistent efforts I was unable to Sc
Ire any action on these indictments q
1til October. 1913. Defeated at that IL
me by technicalities, / presented the =
after to the September grand jury. "
utside activities prevented new in NJ
ctments and the matter was pre-
nted to this grand jury.
Outs, de influence. @.
Though activities on the outside &C
ere equally pronounced. and equally
with those at the September
rm. yet there were enough men on CT
is grand jury, who had regard for W
cir oath to make a true presentment sh
facts. i shall continue to attempt fe