Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-02-11
COESCUNN|NCFOR
men SELLING SOIL
PatrOlman Ted Anderson Probably
Prevents Murder at Land Agents
Car In Moline.
BERT HORNER DISAPPOINTED
Pays $50 and Signs Contract, But
Discovers That He Is To Become
Farm Owner Later.

Murder was without doubt prevented
in Moline last evening when Patrol
man Ted Anderson prevented Bert
Horner from forcing his way into
special car used by a crew of land pro-
moters, which is standing near the
Fifteenth street crossing in that city.
The story is only new in detail. Hor-
ner had paid $50 on contract which
he though gave him title to some land
! in the west
| The Moline man resides in Highland
addition. Like many other people he
is constantly hoping and watching for
an opportunity to better his economic
condition by means of paying in
vestment.
And yesterday morning when he had
| listened to the arguments of several
men who have a special car on the
switch tracks just west of the Fiji
tenth street crossing he believed he
had found the opportunity which if
grasped would bring him wealth.
/ After reading prospectus and list
ening to the talk of the solicitors in
charge of the car Horner handed over
the $50 and agreed to pay $40 hereafter
until approximately 500 more should
have been paid. He understood that he
was to receive land in exchange for his
money incidentally he signed con-
tract.
t Later Horner discovered that &C
cording to the contract he had signed
he was not to receive any land, direct
lily. The money he had paid, and the
money he had agreed to pay, was to &c
to the company which has chartered
the car to reimburse it for the work
still to be done, of locating piece
of land for him. This land is to be in
tract in the west which will be sub
divided and placed at auction in the
near future. Before Horner coUlt
gain possession of the land he would
have to buy it in at auction.
The Highland man was angry wher
, he made this discovery He went tC
the police and they sent him to ar
. attorney. The lawyer went over the
signed contract and told Horner hi
could do nothing. The contract has {
, special clause that provides that the
company making the contract is no
Irresponsible for any verbal representa-
lions made by it's agents.
Buys a Revolver.
Horner's money was gone and h,
had no legal redress Moreover, So
meant good deal to him.
So he went to a downtown hardwar
store aud bought a revolver and cart
ridges. ~
A man wild-eyed, was seen by Pa
trolman Anderson to mount the rea
platform of the special car last even
: ing and stand at the entrance, callin
! to the men within. He held somethin
I in his hand.
Anderson leaped upon the platforr
and seized his hand. The man wa
j Horner. He held loaded revolver.
4 At the police station today Anderso
q was given credit by other members c
4 the force for probably preventing
4 killing.
Horner was of course arrested TIL
j men in charge of the car appeared a
4 the station, but declined to prosecute
q There was considerable sympathy a
q the police station and in police coul
4 for Horner.
He was charged merely with vic
q lating the city ordinance which pre-
4 hibits the flourishing of deadly wea
a pom. He paid $3.50 assessed and wa
n released