Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-01-11
JOHN C. MILLER
NAMED SHERIFF
9YSUP ERvISORS
Coroner Appointed Following Pro-
tracted Voting Contest By
Board Yesterday.
FOURTEENTH BALLOT ELECTS
After Recess Chief Deputy Walter
hittilsen WithdraWs in Favor
Rock Island Man.

His selection came after a pro-
tracted voting contest, when pre-
ceding the 14th ballo. Chief
Deputy Walter Kittilsen with
drew in Miller's favor, giving the
sheriff-elect 81 out of the total OF
30 votes cast by the Rock Island
county board of supervisors. con-
yeued 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 Cordoya and
NJ. L. Thomas OF Illinois City,
being absent. The result in the
deciding ballot was Kittilsen. 8;
Miller. 81. and Mayberry, II.
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, 8: Otto Halter of Moline, 2;
John G. Miller, 10; Deputy Jesse
Hanna, 4, and former Sheriff
George II. 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 IS
votes cast, Hanna received 2, Kit
tilsen II. Miller IA, Mayberry 6,
Richmond /, and Halter 1. 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 Il and Mayberry Z.
Mayberry lost one, while Miller's
total increased to L on the third
tally. this standing of the three
candidates remaining without
change until the 18th ballot when
Miller lost one to Kittilsen.
On the 18th ballot Kittilsen lost
two to Mayberry. the official count
being. Miller Is, Mayberry s and
Kittiisen Il.
Announces Plan.
At this juncture Kittilsen asked
permission to address the board
In a brief talk the chief deputy
decI<red that if elected sheriff he
Ss1uld 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 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
Deputy kittilsen's offer, which he
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 assuredIy 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
fSly. 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 6. A motion |
10 recess for 10 minutes was
moved. seconded and carried.
KittiIsen Withdraws.
Indications were that each fac
lion would stick behind its candi-
late when the meeting was again
called to order and the 14th bal
lot prepared Just before the
Toting Ktttilsen announced his
withdrawal from the race in favor
Of 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.
viii Be On the Square.
81 feel. highly honored by your Il
lotion in choosing me to succeed
lur late sheriff, friend, and com
.ade, Jake Wigers," said Mr.. Mil
er, addressing the board follow I
ng his appointment. 81 have little
% say but that I will endeaver to
ulfIA faithfully the obligations
md Mites OF the office to which (
Tou fave appointed me and do J
~ unhesitatingly pledge myself I
hat 7 shall always be absolutely !
m the square"
The appointment OF Mr.. Miller {
- sheriff vacates the county office {
4 coroner, although the sheriff :
fect has not yet officially re- !
fgnai this position. He will not
% 50 until his commission as ]
.heriT of his county is received
ron Governor F. o, Lowden,
Fhich will probably be within the
ax 10 days. It will then be nee {
say TO call another special