Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-03-16
WILL RICE TELL
WHAT HE KNOWS
TO GRAND JURY?
Former Resor. Keeper Returns
Pays $500 Fine and Wipes
Out Slate.
EXPECTED TO BE A WITNESS
Those on the Inside, However
Scarcely Expect Him to Volun-
tariIy Burn Own Bridges

What will Billy Rice tell when he
goes before the grand jury next week?
That's a question that has been on
the lips of people generally over the
county since il has become known that
the resort owner was to return to the
state and be a witness at the invesu-
CATION by the jury Of alleged Official
corruption in the county and In the
city of Rock Island.
Rice. since the filing of a baton oil
informations against hmm In county
court by States Attorney r. T.
THOMPSON. has been sojourning IN
davenport. Total bond of $4,000 was
reouired on the informations- ms
was more than Rice figured ne couiu
manage to furnish. In some way ne
cot wind that he was TO be prosecuted
for selling liquor without license ana
for operating a disorderly mousse on
his property at Twenty-hrst street and
Fourth avenue. and he decided to va
moose while the going was good
Visited by Wood.
= George W. Wood, special prosecutor
for the grand jury. has paid lew
Sisits TO Rice on the Iowa side, In an
effort 20 induce him to return mere
and explain how il was possible Tor
aim to have conducted his saloon ana
resort two years without interference
of either the city or county authorities
As in all such instances. the sup
position is that Rice paid for the priVl'
Iege. and of course Special Prosecutor
Wood PROPOSE to make strenuous
EFFORT. when he gets Rice before the
prand Jury. to nail the resortkeeper
down to a story involving those from
whom II is suspected he secured pro-
lection.
After the county court informatiOns
had been filed. and IL was learned that
Rice had gotten safely beyond the
borders of the state. there were street
charges that States Attorney Thomp-
.on had purposely scared Rice away
with a prohibitive bond In order that
ae could not be brought before the
Grand jury: in other words that Mr.
Thompson was seeking to shield Ger
tain officials Mr.. Thompson told an
Argus representative today that he
consented to a plea OF guilty from
doubt concerning his sincerity in deal
ng with Rice Mr.. Thompson said he
was ready to assist Mr.. Wood and the
grand jury In every way possible that
Justice might be satisfied. In the
present instance Mr.. Thompson Is
making II possible TO get Rice before
the grand jury.
City Officers Urged Return.
But what has Rice got up his sleeve
in the form Of information? To be
sure that remains TO be seen when he
testifies before the jury. which will
not reconvene until next week.
City administration officials have
been urging the return Of Rice to
clear a cloudy atmosphere that has
been lowering over them since the ex
pose of the character of the place
Rice conducted
While il IS not TO be doubted that
Rice could relate some startling facts.
those who know the man declare that
Prosecutor Wood IS due TO receive a
severe disappointment. Under the
immunity guarantee that Rice obtains
by consenting TO become a grand
Jury witness he is guaranteed against
further prosecution on the charges
contained in the county court informa.
lions.
This being the situation. Rice will
be free TO return TO his Rock Island
residence. Those on the inside pre-
diet that Rice. II he ever paid graft
TO officials. will not admit IL before
the jury. They say he has played the
game for years. always has taken his