The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-08-10
Official Willing to Hold
Conference to Fix Trial
Location.

Springfield, ILL.,, Aug. 1O.-sTo
the corrupt ring dominating
SangamOn county Justice is pO-
litical blackmail." declared
Governor Small in formal
statement issued here this aft
ernOOn in which he said he had
never eVaded arrest. demanded
trial without delay and attack
ed the @SangamOn county law
less ring, two Chicago news
papers, Attorney General Brun-
dage and United States Sena-
tor Medill McCOrmick."
Springfield, Ill, Aug. To-
States Attorney Mortimer to-
day proposed conditions under
which he will agree to grant
Governor Small a change of
venue outside of SangamOn
county for a trial on charges
of cmbeZZlement of state funds
for which the governor was ar
rested by Sheriff Mester yes
terday.
The states attorneys prop
OSitiOns we're:
HOA SOuhcCA
file a petition for a change of
venue and confer with MOrti-
mer in an effort to reach an
agreement on some county ac-
ceptable TO both the prOSeeu-
tiOn and the defense.
That both sides agree to a
speedy trial.
The states attorney offered the
after making a long
statement in which he extoiled the
of SangamOn county
where, he said, the governor could
obtain an impartial trial regard
less of claims to the contrary. Mr.
Mortimer also paid a high tribute
to the men who constituted the
grand jury which indicted Cover
nor Small and his co-defendants.
Lieutenant Governor Fred Z. Ster-
ling and Vernon Curtis of Grant
Park.
States Attorney Mortimer con-
,erred with Attorney General Brun-
1age Immediately after the attor-
ley generals arrival in Springfield,
shortly before midnight last night.
Mortimer's proposal for change
If venue for tire governors trial
vas acceptable to the attorney gem
.ral, il was said.
In making his proposition the
states attorney. it was believed.
vas a step ahead of the governor.
Who expected, through his counsel,
O start an early fight TO take the
ase out of Sangamon county. which
Ie declared is the stronghold Of
lis political enemies.
No Right Waived.
States Attorney Mortimer de-
Jared in his statement that his
does not waive his right
D file an answer to the governors
etition for a change of venue. but
dded that under the conditions Of
cred the change would be granted
Tithout opposition
THE states attorney does this"
IT. Mortimer's statement said, Ito
ccord to this defendant. because
e is the governor of this great
tate, every opportunity that he
lay consider necessary in meeting
he charges contained in these in
he states attorney has the slight
st notion that the defendant could
lot receive a fair and impartial
rial in this county, the contrary
,eing true, but because the states
.ttornev wants him to know that
he officials of this county are anE-
Gus to give him every cOnsidera-
ion legitimately possible in the
of these cases. The
tate's attorney proposes to be en-
nently fair with this defendant and
lis counsel throughout this pro-
The only other consideration in
mind is that his Cthe goyernOr'sD
counsel and the states attorney
hall endeavor to get these matters
et down for trial in the court in
which they may finally be docketed
s speedily as possible.
"The states attorney reiterates
lis belief and conviction that Mr..
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