Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-01-11
JOHN G. MILLER
NAMED SHERIFF
RVISORS
Coroner Appointed Following Pro-
traeted Voting Contest By
Board Yesterday.
FOURTEENTH BALLOT ELECTS
After Recess Chief Deputy Walter
kittiIsen Withdraws in Favor
Rock Island Man.

tracted voting contest, when pre-
ceding the 14th ballo. Chief
Deputy Walter Kittilsen with
drew in Miller's favor, giving the
sheriff-elect q out of the total Of
81 votes cast by the Rock Island
county board of supervisors. con-
veued in special meeting yester-
~ afternoon.
The contest for sheriff early re-
suited in an eventual choice being
made from q field of three men,
Chief Deputy Walter w. Kittilsen,
Coroner and Acting Sheriff John
G. Miller and John Mayberry Of
Edgington. There were So mem
bers of the county board present,
two. c. c. Opdycke Of Cordova and
NJ. L. Thomas Of Illinois City,
being absent. The result in the
deciding ballot was Kittilsen. 8;
Miller, q, and Mayberry, IL.
Election of a sheriff to succeed
Jake Wigers, killed in a pistol
duel with bandits on the Coaltown
road near Moline. Dec. 30. was the
first matter to be undertaken fol-
lowing assembly of the board
members at. 3 o'clock yesterday
Afternoon
A nomination by ballot gave
John Mayberry votes; Kittil-
sen. 9; Otto Halter of Moline, 2;
John G. Miller, 10; Deputy Jesse
Hanna, 4, and former Sheriff
George H Richmond l.
- Before the first vote was cast in
~ ballot for final selection. Cor
poral Allan S Wigers, son of the
slain sheriff, addressed the board.
Ladies and gentlemen" said Cor
poraI Wigers, Il speak both for
myself and my mother when l say
that there is but one man for the
position Of sheriff of Rock Island
county to succeed my father AMI
that man is Walter W. Kittilsen."
On the first ballot of the 80
votes cast, Hanna received 2, Kit
tilsen II. Miller IA. Mayberry G,
Richmond 1, and Halter l. Fol
lowing this count Halter with
drew from the race.
Only Kittilsen. Miller and May
berry remained in the running
after the second ballot. Number
of votes necessary for election
with 50 voting was IS. On the
second count Miller had 16. kitti'
sen u and Mayberry z.
Mayberry lost one. while MiIler's
total increased to II on the third
tally. this standing of the three
candidates remaining without
change until the 18th ballot when
Miller lost one to Kittilseu.
On the 18th ballot Kittilsen lost
two to Mayberry. the official count
being. Miller Is, Mayberry s and
Kittilsen IL.
Announces Plan.
At this juncture Kittilsen asked
permission to address the board. |
IN a brief talk the chief deputy
declared that If elected sheriff he
IEShld provide adequately for the
Wigers family, provision to take
the form of the appointment of
Allan S. Wigers as deputy, reten- !
ton of Mrs. Wigers as matron at |
the county Jail with an annual !
salary aggregating about 800 and |
payment of a specialf allotment |
from his salary as sheriff of $1,000 |
per year to the family as long as
he remained in office.
Friction Develops.
Supervisor NJ. O. Griswold at |
=
characterized as most unfortunate |
under the circumstances and |
closely akin to what is termed |
bribery under the election laws.
kittilSen Immediately answered |
Supervisor Griswold by declaring
that it was assuredly not with |
such intentions that he addressed |
the board, but that he only wishe |
to make his plans and intentions |
if elected clear to the board men,
,hers and to pledge himself accord
f%~ly. 1t was his contention that
the attitude of the next sheriff re-
garding the family of the late
Sheriff Wigers should be revealed.
When voting was resumed and
the 18th ballot taken the deal
lock was again evidenced. with
Kittilsen receiving u votes. Mil
Ter II and Mayberry s. A motion
10 recess for 10 minutes was
moved. seconded and carried
kfttilsen WithdraWs. II
Indications were that each fac I
lion would stick behind its candi-
date when the meeting was again
,alled TO order and the 14th bal
lot prepared. Just before the
Toting Kittilsen announced his
withdrawal from the race in favor
If Miller.
Sheriff Miller will conduct the {
iuties Of the Office until the mex. '
general election in November, ! +
1920. when a sheriff for the sue !
Feeding two years of the regular {
:erm will be elected by the people !
1t the polls I
viii Be On the Square. {
Il feel highly honored by your I
Iction in choosing me to succeed 7
1ur late sheriff. friend. and com +
.ade, Jake Wigers," said Mr.. Mil d
er, addressing the board follow ] f
ng his appointment. Il have little
% say but that I will endeaver TO
nlfin faithfully the obligations
md duIies of the office to which {
7oux' re appointed me and do I
~ hhesitatingly pledge myself n
fshall always be absolutely l.
Z square" II
appointment Of Mr.. Miller q
riff vacates the county office 4
foner. although the sheriff I
5has not yet officially re- I,
this position. He will not
p until his commission as 7
AR of his county is received
hIs Governor F. o, Lowden.
will probably be within the =
lilo days. 1t will then be nee c
IEy TO call another special D