The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-08-10
STATE OFFERS
IN SMALL CHANGE
III OF VENUE
tcontiuued from First Page)

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Sman could and would receive a
fair and impartial trial in this
county, but is ready to concede a
change of venue in order to give
Mr. Small what he has said he
wanted-that is an immediate trial
In some other county.
"In the meantime the citizens of
Illinois should suspend judgment
until the facts are developed by
trial"
Small Gives Bond.
Governor Small made the trip to
the court house in the sheriff's au-
tomobile, where the bonds were ap-
proved and a note was attached by
Governor Small TO the bottom in
which he asserted the bonds were
given under protest and that he re-
linquished none of the rights of the
chief executive of the state.
Governor Smail's bonds were
signed by three of his close politi-
cal friends. Roy and Harry Ide and
Judge Chauncey H. Jenkins Dur
ing the day the state capitol was
crowded with a throng OF curious
spectators, watching the progress
of Sheriff Mester's siege on the
states chief executive. and the trip
from the governors home to the
court house was made along streets
filled with those who had heard of
the agreement of Governor Small
with Sheriff Mester.
Makes Review.
Mr.. Mortimer reviewed the state
ment OF the grand jury investiga-
ton as a preface to his proposal of
a change of venue.
He pointed out that the grand |
jury was first impanelled in May, |
and recalled in July for the state |
treasury inquiry, and declared that
he had no knowledge of the mat
tiers to be Investigated in July I'M
til the evidence was presented to
him by Attorney General Brund-
age.
"No states tattorney in Illinois
with a reasonable consideration I
bis obligations and duties, could or
would have declined to cause the
grand jury to function for the pur-
poses Of the investigation of these
charges" Mr.. Mortimer said
Z He recalled that IL of the jurors
were substantial farmers of Sanga-
mon county, adding that lit was as
clean and fine a body of men as
ever assembled in any grand jury
room in Illinois, and as free from
political considerations or prejr-
dices as could be assembled any,
where"
The states attorney related the
scene in Judge Smiths court where
counsel for the governor made their
argument that the king con do no
wrong" followed by the courts rul-
ing that Governor Small was sub
ject to arrest.
Then Mr.. Mortimer reviewed the
conditional surrender" offered by
Albert Fink, one of the governor
attorneys, and the answer of San
CANON county officials that they
would not leave their own county
wait for his return.
Explains Offer.
After reviewing events of the
first two days this week Mr.. Morti-
mer said:
Yesterday afternoon the sheriff
with his deputies went to the cant
toll building for the purpose of serv-
ing the warrants in question. the
thought being to serve the warrants
when the governor left his office.
While the sheriff was present in
the building the governor request
ed him to come into his office and
this the sheriff did. The governor,
after some informal talk, requested
the sheriff to come to the executive
mansion at five O'Clock, the sheriff
having refused 10 serve the war
rants in the governors office, and
that there the warrants could he
served.
This. the sheriff agreed TODD, and
the warrants were accordingly so
served at the executive mansion |
Yesterday afternoon |
The defendant is reported to |
lave said that he wants an immedi- |
lie trial, but that he will not be |
rled in Sangamon county If he can |
void 1t. To that end, and to hast |
Ii the day for the settlement of the /
ssue involved, the states attorney |
fhaGn /