Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-11-02

IiIVUl VI NltUtSSES, tHtlA WliSi ttAOSueS
and supposed knowledge and informa-
ton. and all data possessed by, or
known to us, that might lead to a full
and fair Investigation"
String Attached.
admit that you turned over to me
the testimony gathered by your COM
mittee, but you turned it over with
| string attached to 1t. The grand
jury got it's legal information and ad-
vice from the states attorney, but
when we wanted any information on
this testimony, our states attorney
could not give it to us because you re-
| fused to let this testimony go into his
| hands.
| You did furnish us a list of cases
and witnesses, etc, and to the best of
our ability we worked on them. You
cited laws applicable, as you thought
to the cases on which you had gather
ed testimony, but the testimony you
had and the evidence we obtained from
witnesses sworn to tell the truth was
of a very different character, but ir-
respective of our knowledge acquired
from witnesses under oath, in order
! to justify yourselves, you criticise the
grand jury.
Show Lack of knowledge.
| You also belittle the indictments
found against the sheriff as being mere
misdemeanors. If you make this state
ment on your own knowledge l suggest
that you consult your attorney, and
if this statement is made on his ad-
vice, then / venture the assertion that
| he is not q safe advisor, and to bear
me out 1 refer you to section 80, chap
| ter 3S, Illinois statutes. You say you
do not desire to prejudice the outcome
| of these indictments, but / hold that
| is just what you are doing, or else
you are not aware of the significance
! of the charges found in these indict-
ments.
According to the statutes, if this
man is convicted on only Is of these
indictments he would be subject to
Imprisonment for $50 years in the pen
itentiary. This ought to satisfy the
most exacting citizen in the county
You say, "If these indictments were
justified, and the facts therein charg-
ed be true, then. in our judgment, 9TH
er and more serious charges could and
should have been made"
Replying to this will say that you
safeguard yourself by saying Gin
our judgment" as you had no access
to the evidence taken by the grand
jury you were therefore in no position
to judge as to what kind of indictments
should or could be found.
Hits Board Head.
You say, ct is inconceivable to us
that such wholesale official miscon-
| duct. as charged in the indictments.
could have been practiced in the sher-
ifs office without invoking Others"
You do not state whom you expected
it to involve. Can you say there is
anything in the testimony your COM
mittee took that would even indict the
sheriff? ! would say that if you are
surprised that the grand jury did not
indict other county officers, there are
others. outside of your committee and
outside of the board of supervisors,
who are also surprised. Many are
the EXPLANATIONS of surprise that have
come to members of the grand jury as
to why we did not indict George H.
Richmond for selling supplies to the
county; why we did not indict Mr..
Wright and Mr.. Sleight, as the county
clerks books show they were all paid
money for services or for goods fur
nished the county while they were
members of the county board, which is
contrary to law. Perhaps these and
other members of the board are the
ones you thought would be indicted?
More Inconsistencies.
the opinion that this investigation
should be continued and vigorous pros
ecutions be made" and yet when the
states attorney goes before your body
and asks for an appropriation to pay
for an assistant to help in the prose
cution you practically turn it down,
or at least defer the matter. He made
| a request strictly in keeping with the
law and you turned it down, and on
the other hand you appropriated $4,000
to hire special states attorneys OF
your own selection, which is contrary
to law, and then you say you gave all
the assistance in your power to the
states attorney. Unfortunately your
actions speak louder than words. AS
| to your assistance to the states at
torney | make this statement without
fear of contradiction: that l never saw
you in the presence of the states at
torney but your attitude was one of
antagonism.
Has Views TO Air.
What l have said in this communi-
cation has principally concerned your
report to the board of supervisors and
as the grand jury like your commit
tee, was appointed by the board of
supervisors, and as you deemed it well
to make a report to said board, / also
feel like making a statement express
ing my opinion concerning this mat
ter.
In the first place, you engage two
attorneys-not to assist the states at
| torney. Mr.. Thompson, but to take his
place. According to law there are
only three conditions under which
this may be done. First, that the
states attorney is absent, or not in
! the county; second, that the states
I of &c ;pt ~, to