Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-06-23
DIETz IN BITTER
ATTACK ON BOARD
OF SUPERVISORS
Chief Counsel for L. NJ. Magill
Denounces Attempt to Sup
plant States Attorney.
a DAMNABLE PROCEEDING
IN First Arsument on Motion to ouash
Indictments. Declares Woods
Appointment Illegal.

a most damna5le proceeding is
tie way II which G. o. Dietz. chief
counsel for Lawrence VI. Magill. for
Mer states attorney, under indictment
for conspiracy. embezzIement and
bribery. characterized the ATTEMPT of
tn board OF supervisors to select
legal talent 20 supeTsede States At
torney T. r. Thompson in the admin
istratiOn OF criminal matters in the
county in he u idst OF his argument
on IN motion 10 quash, before Judge
+ c. Graves in circuit court this morn
ing.
Previous TO the opening OF the ar
Euments, q motion was made by the
defense. Directing TO the appearance
Of George W. Wood as counsel for the
prosecution and when this was over
ruled. objection was also made to the
appearance Of {. 3. Marshall or any
other attorney, other than the regu-
larry elected and duly qualified states
attorney OF the county. as counsel fC-
III state. Judge Graves likewise over
ruled this. which was followed by a
motion by Mr.. Wood that Mr.. Marshall
be allowed TO assist the prosecution
through the disposition Of the motion
20 quash. This was allowed. II is
understood Mr. Marshall is to with
draw from the case and that J. L. Haas
VIII succeed him.
The defense then renewed its objec-
ton 20 proceeding further with the
case unless the regularly elected and
duly qualified states attorney or the at
torney general OF the state OF Illinois,
appear for the people Judge Graves
overruled the motion and then the
formal arguments began.
Denounces Board.
3Ir. Dietz was the first speaker and
he made a vigorous denunciation OF
the tactics of the board of supervis-
ors IN its continued and persistent ef-
forts TO supplant F. +. Thompson, |
states attorney. with privately en- |
pioyed legal talent representing GER
tain interests" and declared the ap-
pOintment OF 6. W. Wood as special 1
prosecutor Illegal.
.'FO- two years and a half the board I
q supervisors have attempted TO over
tide and displace the states attorney"
ne declared Ever since Mr.. Thomp-
son has been in Office the board has
ton concerning certain alleged corrup-
ton OF county officials and criticising
him for the manner in which he has
conducted the investigation OF the
same
Here Is fine situation: The board
% supervisors select the grand jurors
and then pass resolutions directing
the Jury what TO investigate. The jury +.
FrF
special states attorney. in order TO
take the administration of justice from
the hands Of the regular states attor- d
ney and place it in the hands OF pri-
vately employed counsel for private
ends.
One Of these defendants has been
indicted for embezzIement when there {
is merely a controversy between the !
board and himslf as TO certain monies. 6
He claims it and the board claims it. '
That is all there is 10 IT. In order to Z
force certain officials TO pay back to Z
th= courty money that IS alleged 10
nave been taken from the county. the 4,
board has gone 10 this extreme method >
Not only has this pernicious infiu- /,
ence OF the board in this Wilful deter :
mination 10 get someone extended to :
grand juries. but even 10 an attempt
20 intimidate the court itself The =.
supervisors appropriated $4,000 for i
the employment Of c. J. Searle and c. -
+ Sturtz. Kewanee. not as assistants L
TO Mr.. Thompson, but as special states
attorneys, with full power 10 investi- u
gate the alleged graft When after
year this attempt failed. the board u
tries the new plan OF having the grand
Jurors. whom they appointed. ask the
court for special states attorney. =
j special states attorney was named.
illegally. We claim. for the reason that =
The county has a regularly elected -
'tat3f att .rney. aEsHerable 10 the "
people He Was neither incapacitated, '"
absent or interested. yet he was sup -.
planted &c
These defendants have been denied
the protection Of the regularly elected
states attorney. whose duty IL is, not -
my TO prosecute but 10 stand between ID.
he accused and private interests. Bit -
er personal and political enemies of +
ne defendants were appointed as spe- Oil
la states attorneys and justice has -
OF been done" IN
Abba. Iowa. June 23.-victor Mn liza