The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-01


yaust two weeks that the men IN
ferested IN our prosecution, or
uersecufion, would spread 1t broad
cast, through the public press as a
mart Of their well known propa-
eanda. a few days prior TO tne
opening OF your trial next Monday
at Waukegan- 1 heard the rumor
days ago. Every newspaper man
in, Surfngfeld knew that the story
was being prepared for public con-
sumption. Every newspaper man
was offered the story, in direct or
indirect manner. II is Significant
that none but reporters for the
JOURNAL and the News, two OF the
Chicago daiIies, which have acted
as mouth-pieces for Attorney-Gen-
eraI Brundage, States Attorney
Mortimer and Boss Sullivan,
would print the story Reputable
news associations and many news
papers, would have nothing to do
with the story, although 1t was
placed at their disposal. Their re
fusaI needs no further comment
"Buck- Demands Job.
81 do not think it necessary for
me to a 20 you hat the whole
charge is a damnable lie, the re-
suit of a conspiracy long ago en-
tered into. when all attempts at
blackmail had failed. Let me pre-
sent to you briefly the facts and
the evidence:
Il know Buck Evans. In his
haunts in Springfield he is a we'll
known character. / neither saw
him nor talked to him while he
served as a grand juror. Some time
after the grand jury had adjourned
he came to my office, said he would
like to apply for a position as a
board and said:
$4,000 Getting Indictment"
by the way, I've got a lot of
information you might be interest
ed in. I've just been discharged as
a grand juVor and can talk. l new
er saw such a crooked thing in my
life. They spent S12.0 600 getting
chat indictment. If I give you the
stuff will you get me a job%
Il told him l was naturally in
terested and suggested that he
prepare his statement and secUre
corroborative evidence if he could.
He then asked me for money which
! refused.
He returned repeatedly, bring
ing nothing more tangible in the
way of evidence than mis- bold as
sertion that $4,000 had been
spent to indict Small and always
insisting on a job. On one visit
he was 81 intoxicated that sane
discussion was impossible and he
became such a nuisance hat finally
I had to refuse TO see hiia.
Makes Drunken Threats.
Weeks ago, when l had repeat
eddy refused to see him in my of
flee, l was told Of drunken threats
which he had made to the effec'
that if | didn't get him a job uuicl
he was going Z" frame z toy
that would Inn me.
Il paid no attention to it..
Shortly thereafter I was callel
TO the phone. Evans was on the
wire. This vas the substance OF
that conversation:
If You don't get me a Job II
fix yOu. You know | a always
get the jack from the her feI-
lows. I'll make an affidavit that
viii ruin you.
AT that point l hung up the re-
reiver. At a later date he phoned
again and threatened that unless
be had a job by night, he would
ruin me forever
THAT was the last personal. or
phone conversation l had with him
Fortunately, for myself, and you
perhaps; unfortunately for the DO
liucal enemies who seek your per.
sonal and political ruin and the DO
lttIcal assassination of any maj
who may be a friend of yours. and
for the Chicago Journal, and the
Chicago Daily News, complete ref
utation of the story printed yester-
day is not dependent on my word
Has Evans Letters.
II have in my possession tive
original letters signed by William
D.. Evans. One was delivered &c
me through the mail: the other by
messenger. They tell in documen-
tary evidence, the whole sordid