Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-08-16
NEGLEY INDICATED
AND ACCUSER FINED

Motorcycle OHcer NegIey has been
INDICATED. for n. w. Poster, the man
who said he was going 10 prove Mo
lines speed cop prevaricator, was
found guilty of speeding and fined 50
ana costs in police court last even-
ing
In addition to Negley's viadication
there was bitter deuuuciation Of
Of the police court and then appeal 80
a court where there is little }keli-
hood Of the case ever being retired
There was also an assertion that
the motorcycle officer intimidated
possible witnesses and SO prevented
them from testifying against them.
There was no proof Of this and the
assertion was laughed at by Negley.
Poster was arrested July 10 at
Fifth avenue aud Fifty-third street
When he was arraigned on q charge
OF speeding he said he was not guilty
and could prove that NegIey was not
telling the truth Assistant States
Attorney NJ j. McEniry said at the
time that if Poster could prove by
another witness that Negley was pre-
varicating the charge would be dis
missed and that he (McEulry) would
prosecute no more speed cases while
NegIey was speed cop.
P0sten advertised for witnesses. the
case being continued several times in
the meantime. He had a witness last
evening, Ed Peterson. Peterson tes-
tilted that ne saw Poster at Fifth ave-
nue. and F'ifty-secU0d street. block
from the point where he was arrested
Peterson was on Fifty-secoud street at
the time, he said.
Immediately after turning and see
ing Poster he turned east on Fifth
avenue and was passed by Negley a
moment later,
Posten asserted that he turned
around at Fifty second street and saw
Negley, saw him two blocks behind, at
Fiftieth street The question for the
court TO decide, said Magistrate Gus
tafson. was: Could Negley travel two
blocks while Peterson was making the
turn at Fifth avenue and Fifty-seCond
street.
The court decided that It was en i'm
possibility. Posten was found guilty.
He then appealed the case 80 the cir
cult court The appeal TO the circuit
court angered Magistrate Gustalson
and he denounced all speeders who
claim they are not guilty aud yet APP
peal to a court where they viii uot be
given an opportunity TO prove the low
er court wrong until years have
elapsed
III You doubt the decision Of this
court and want an appeal III good
faith. why don't you appeal 10 the city
court of Moline where the case will be
heard in reasonable timc?' asked the
magistrate "Speeders who appeal TO
the circuit court are deliberately
avoiding trial they are appealing not
with the intention of obtaining Justice
+ but because they know it win be years
before the case viii be heard
Poster then claimed he had wit
ness wb0 could prove Nesley wrong
bur that this witness was afraid to
come to court to testify. as she feared
Negley would "have it in for her and
get her" Neither NegIey nor the mag
istrate gave any credence to this
claim.
Commissioner a z. Stou1er, head
of the Moline police department. made
the following comment this morning
when asked for a statement on the
EegIey-p Poster matter:
"Negley is one of the ablest and
most conscientious men that has work
ed on the police force since have
been commissioner. If did not think
he was truthful and capable he would
he summariIy discharged"