The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-31
VICIOUS Crime
STAYS, LESSER
is DECREASING
Hundreds of Minor Cases Unknown
But Malicious Violations Keep
Up Police Strain.

Fewer cases were handel by the
Rock Island police during 1921
than in many years, but where once
the majority of cases were of a
minor nature, nearly all now, out
side of motor law and similar
minor violations, are of a vicious
character.
In reality the police have found
that the decrease in cases handled
has not relieved the strain, for they
have come in contact with more
characters VINO seemed to have
turned directly toward the vicious
forms of crime.
According TO an analysis of the
1921 police report, it can not be
said that unemployment is a breed
er of crime. Men go hungry and
straight" at the same time, if they
are of normal stock, it is indicated
forcibly by the report In February,
1921, only 50 cases were handled
by the police, and during that same
month 123 down and cutters" were
given lodging. Contrasted with
that month was May, when 1913
cases were handled, the highest
number of any month of the year,
and only Al men sought lodging.
The police say that they can not
help but notice that the particular
ly vicious types of law violations
are increasing, while the hundreds
of minor cases that used to link up
the books" are getting less each
year.
The way the actual number of
cases has decreased is shown by the
total of l ,208 cases in 1921, 12S less
than 1920, sol less than 1919, 1.746
less than 1918, and 2,695 less than
1917.
In 1920 there were no murders
listed. There was one case of man
slaughter, however. which stands
against the 1921 record of two muir
ders, both marked by unusual vici-
BUSINESS.
The first of these was the find
ing of the body of FiladelfiO
Todoro, his head almost hacked
from the trunk, in rooms at 2124 II
Fourth avenue, where TOdorO had
made his home. The body was
found Jan. 10, 1921, but the muir
der had been committed at least
three days prior, by an unknown
assassin. A Ratchet was the weapon
of death and was found lying by
the gruesome corpse. No one was
ever arrested for the crime, which
many still consider to have been
the work of the black hand"
On Oct. IL, 1921, Mrs. Gertrude
Taylor, aged 33, was murdered by
II RI 4hA
home of Mrs. Taylor's mother, Mrs.
Emma Wollendaupt, 613 Seventh
street. Nikas was a sutton, and in
a jealous wrath followed Mrs. Tay-
lor into the house and shot her
down. Three bullets penetrated
Mrs. Taylor's body and she died in
stantly. A FORTH bullet narrowly
missed the woman's mother. Louis
Wollenhaupt, 4 brother, entered
the room and clutched with Nikas,
who died in the struggle from a
bullet from his own revolver, fired
either with suicidal intent or in an
effort TO kill Wollenhaupt. From
these two cases of crime committed
in this city during the last year
tapers down to cases dismissed aft
er a court admonishment.
Police Chief Tom Cox and a
force of 81 men under him have
succeeded in capturing nearly ev-
cry criminal CT the year, and the
department is considered to be op
Grated more smoothly than ever in
the history of the city.
In 1921, 494 state cases We're
handled. TIA city cases. and fines
amounted to $14 1929. The amount
of fines collected was higher in
September than any other month,
the total being s2.60920. although
the number of arrests fell 100 I'M
der the month of May. which again
shows that the number Of cases
handled gives no idea as to the
viciousness of crime situations.
Detailed Report.
Summary Of the police record
follows:
Disorderly conduct cases ......2S0
Fugitives from justice ....... "A
Vagrancy NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. %
Assault with deadly weapon 49,. II
4 H.,