Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-05-29
Former States Attorney Files
Sensational Affidavit in
Circuit Court Motion.
CLAIMS HE'S PROSECUTED
Declares in Interest Of Justice Attor-
ney General of State Should
Be Called Here.

., affidavit i'll circuit court alleging
nat his present prosecution is the re-
sult OF a deep laid plot on the part Of
certain members of the county board,
George W Wood. special prosecutor;
Il Searle. whom he has opposed for
-oIi,ical honors: l.. + Petit, foreman
~ the recent grand jury, and others,
% ruin his political and private life.
He declares he would not receive a fair
trial with Wood as prosecutor, declar-
ing the latter has always been his
enemy. and asks that either the regu-
Lar states attorney. Floyd K. Thomp-
son or the attorney general Of Illinois
he permitted TO conduct the case for
the people Of Rock Island county and
the state Of Illinois that full justice be
done and that the persons mentioned
as his enemies be not allowed to per
secute him at the expense Of the tax
navers. Among other allegations in
the Magil affidavit these appear:
"AfFant further says that the said
members Of the said board Of super
visors. have. during the times herein
above mentioned, entered into con-
spiracy and agreement 10 carry out
and effect their said unlawfu. aims and.
purposes. as aforesaid. ana in pursu-
snce thereof. have hired private coun-
sci and attorneys at law in the per
sons OF one Charles J. Searle and OF
one Charles Z. Sturtz TO prosecute
their said charges against this affiant
and 10 prosecute this afiiant and have !
st-iveu and sought by every means I'M 4
lawfully and improperly 10 supplant /
the regular and duly elected and act
ing states attorney Of said Rock Is
land county. in the person OF one
FIoyd Z. Thompson. with such private
counsel. as aforesaid. for the purpose
OF carrying out their personal. private
ard malicious ends. as aforesaid. and
70 thereby control the Office OF pub
lie prosecutor in said Rock Island coun-
T.. for the purpose Of prosecuting and
prosecuting this affiant for private
elds and corrupt and malicious pur-
poses and with a view OF injuring and
running this atlantis good reputation,
IN both public and private life
Recalls Primary Bout.
-Afiant further says that the said
Charles J. Searle is a personal and
political enemy Of this affiant and has
ben such for years past, and that at
{
ton OF candidates for nomination for
congress OF the United States. the said :
Charles J. Searle and this afiant were ,
opposing candidates for nomination as :
candidates for election by the same ,
political party. and that the political
campaign between the said Charles J.
Searle and this affiant was hard fought
and bitter. on the part OF the said 7
Charles J. Searle and resulted in the r
defeat OF this affiant for nomination
and the defeat OF the said Charles J. =
Searle for election TO said Office; that ;
said Charles J. Searle has falsely &C
cused this affiant Of official corrup- 9
ton and misconduct and has sought TO :
injure. ruin and blight the reputation
Of this afiisnt. in both public and pri- :,
vate life. and that all of these facts =
we're. during all OF the times herein
mentioned known 20 the said members :,
Of the said board OF supervisors, and /,
that the said employment by the said .
board Of supervisors of the said ,
Charles J. Searle, as q privately paid :,
Investigator and prosecutor, as afore- 81
said, was in furtherance of the said .
unlawful agreement and conspiracy OF =
the said members OF the said board of :,
supervisors for the purpose aforesaid +,
@Afhant further says the said mem =,
)ers Of the said board OF supervisors ~
lave, By inunendO and otherwise. pub :,
ic!y and officially announced and de- -
Jared that this affiaat was, and must p.
'e guilty OF official misconduct, and 9,
nat the said members OF the said -
'osrd OF supervisors would stand q.
ack' Of any prosecution Of this aft .,
nj on any charge or charges OF official n,
Misconduct. including the charges set n,
orth and alleged in the Indictment
erein. in the above entitled cause. IN
Thompson Refuses TO Bulge. III
The board OF supervisors. bitterly be
omplaiEed Of. charged the said in
Ioyd r Thompson. the regular and m
l4y elected states attorney OF Rock 81
land county, with misconduct be m
-Gse he, the said Floyd r Thompson. ca
such regular states attorney. as ell
oresaid, did not step aside and per pl
y the said Charles J. Searle and an
Aer privately employed and hired be
'ahsel, as aforesaid. 20 have. hold and In
e the Office OF public prosecutor and IN
e Office % states attorney OF the said in
'ck Island county. for the purpose III
prosecuting their said charges hi
4lHst This afiant. including the
aTges alleged and set forth IN the
1ictment herein. in the above en- O.,
led cause, and bitterly arraigned
q accused various members Of the 10
Flouz grand turies. selected and Tor
oseH, a. aforesaid, al. and for. the we
1ous terms Of the said circuit court, cia
Aforesaid. because said grand Jur- Tn
cid not return and present indict- VIII
nts against the affiant, relative ma
the charges Of the said members OF
said board Of supervisors. includ- hle
the matters and things charged neS
J alleged IN the indictment herein lit
ile above entitled cause. Gus
Ahant further says that the grand cou
oFs referred 70 in and who return eTn