Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-12-06
S.ope 4 Webster Construction Com
many Requests That 100 More
be Given Freedom.
STATES ATTORNEY PROTESTS
Over 500 Jsa-BirdS in Three Cities
Vow. with approximately Only
Five Parole Agents.

.nnIicstion by the stone < Webster
.1mpsny since the signing of the
.rristice-suCb is the present sit
r,-jou and the direct cause Of the
rave of TObbeTies and buTglaTies
which has swept the three towns.
-~o-e uartlClI.zT5v Rock Island. dur
frg the last forth sht, according to
states Attorney Floyd E. ThOmp-
son.
During July and August about
510 conyicts were brought to this
vi-fnitv. Since then they have been
sar. here in patches Of from % to
100 Only FIVE parole agents have
been assigned 10 control these men
and see that parole conditions are
faithfully observed
The caliber Of recent arrivals IS
such as TO seriously menace the life
and safety of the citizens of these
communities. according to the
states attorney Of the Is ex-cOn-
vic,s sent here in November. all had
been inCarcerated for one or more
NJ The four most degenerate and
desperate crimes murder. robbery,
burglary and rape on the list are
TWO murdererS, a robbers, two rap
lists and FIVE burglars
One had been committed 10 pris-
on for larceny, another for man
slaughter. tvo for indecent liberties
with children and one for receiving
stolen property
No Record Given.
When the paroIed prisoners are
inf Q 10y
relative 10 the crimes which they
had committed is furnished the
states attorney nv the state board
Of paroles and pardons, stated Mr..
Thompson. Through other reliable
sources. however, he has been able
to keep informed as TO the type Of
criminals being lOosed upon so
tiety here, he declared.
Their large mum bers, the Teadi-
lass with which they are sent, and
the layness OF parole regulations
cue to the insufficient .Qumber of
parole agents OccasiOned a strong
protest TO be sent VIII COIvin, sup
perintentent Of pardons and par
oles0les. by States Attorney
Thompson on Oct 1.
In his reply, Superintendent Col
yin assured the states attorney Of
his earnest cooperation in every
Eav possible to relieve and better
the situation. Careful discTimina
ton would be shown in the number
and type Of parOled men sent here,
according 10 the letter. In the fol-
lowing month, November, however,
the foregoing % men of the nature
Of the crimes for which they had
been imprisoned were dispatched
/, 70 the tri-cities.
Statement was made by Superin-
tendent Colvin that, altogether, the
state board Of pardons and paroles
has freed 1900 men from the Joliet
peniteut:ary. For this large num-
Der he admits that there are only
about 10 parole agents.
Are Outrageous.
Another protest, both oral and
written. was made by States Attor-
ney Thompson to superintendent
Colvin today. Conditions are out
rageous,' stated the states attoT-
ney TO the newspaper men assem-
bled in his Office this morning. AS
! glance over this list (the NOvem-
Der shipmentl my blood bOiis. Here
are 28 Of the most vicious, danger
Gus and in nine cases out of ten, in
corrigible criminals Of society. The
four, | might say, cardinal offenses
against society. absolutely degen-
crate in preparation, have been
committed one or more times by
each Of these men. Yet they are
brought here, with practically no
elective means of supervision.
Notorious Men Here.
We have in the tri-cities today
some Of the most famous and no
torlous crooks Of the country big
crooks, who have done time for
0!oWlHg safes. operating confidence
games, secOud-stoTy men, and gold
uFlck men These men are all
night They, IN most cases. have
enough sens. 70 observe their par
Ole conditions.
But beware Of the robber, the
lap'st, the murderer and fOOtpad.
4aese. -Ml-a.s, as a rule, are des-
pefate ana nave no respect for life
" property. They are 50 deprayed
slat 70 reform them is almost
1opeless task. and at best d tedious
one requiring much time are care
Id attention.
Must Act.
Something must be done. Men
are being laid Off at the arsenal,
/ ~ stone d. Webster calls for more
s4-conylcrs This concern cannot
y expected 10 have the interests
t1ls community 81 heart They
are naturally for Stone & Webster
@l1 Tor Stone d Webster only"
ID his protest TO superintendent
ee'oiVin, part Of which is appended.
s-@Ie S Attorney Thompson puts
ne situation plainly and couciseIy
More Than Share.
We are willing To cooperate with
!y-f board 10 The fullest extent
'y.e t-a states attorney such
--sal berz nj your board as have a.
.-led the meetings OF the States
| .'Ley- association Will recall
80 / hay. always been a cham
m q The parole system, and that
lave always defended the action
I-e parole board on such cases
nave come from my county.
a. seems thar we are receiving
- Us -dera8.y more than our share
,, I-eae paroled prisoners. We are
ling ~. TO have them sent here with
~ - objection and 70 cooperate 10
fullest extent in giving them
j arc TO make good. but We want
- % understand that they are
s--sAEQ pE1EouHrs and We don't