The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-01-25
YOUTH UP FOR
ROBBERY SAYS
He HAS ALIbI
George Luecke Claims He Was In
Rock Island the Night DR.. West
Was Robbed

was k0boed.
George Luecke, aged ~. graduate
Of the Pontiac reformatory, claims
an alibi in defense Of the charge
against him Of robbery, the result
Of DR.. A. D. West Of Moline on the
night Of Dec. 81. On the stand this
morning. Luecke repudiated the
confession Of Wade Potter, age II,
of Rock Island, who, as states evil
dence yesterday afternoon, named
Luecke as his partner in crime that
night. That is, Luecke disavowed
any connection with the holdup of
the Moline Physician and sought by
his story to convince that he was
in Rock Island at the time the rob-
berry was staged. Luecke rendered
the names Of persons who he de-
clares had knowledge of his where
abouts the night Of the holdup and
subpoenas were Immediately issued
for these witnesses.
Luecke, whose home is in High
land addition in Moline, has served
two previous terms at Pontiac re-
formatory, aggregating four years.
Once he was sent up on charge of
burglary and larceny and again he
was committed on charges pre-
ferred by a girl.
Luecke employs better language
than the average high school grad
uate, indicating no handicap in this
respect through loss Of attendance
at school. He is suave in his man
ner of expression and neat of ap-
pearance. These are surface mani
festations. however, according to
Sheriff Miller, who declares that
Luecke is the most troublesome
prisoner he has had to deal with in
a long time, He states that
Luecke's brain works overtime in
creating disturbances among the
other prisoners and in causing dis
comfort and inconvenience to the
Jail attendants.
Turns States Evidence.
| Luecke's story of his action on
Dec. 81, are in direct contradiction
to the Information given by Wade
Potter, who has pleaded guilty te
the charge. Luecke admits an &C.
quaintance with young Potter
which was of a weeks standing
prior to the crime, but contends he
is entirely ignorant of any unlaw.
full act that the latter may have
staged New Years eve. Potter TOLD
the jury that the two held up DR.
West about 1890 that night at the
corner of Twenty-fifth street ant
Ninth avenue in Moline. Lueckt
claims that he did not leave a Ger.
tain Rock Island dance hall unit
about 10 o'clock New Years eve
and that he had spent 10 or Is min
utes conversing with a clerk in &
poolroom here after that hour. He
related other details of his where
abouts at that time which the stat,
will make an effort to controvert.
Potter Admits All.
II Young Potter admits everything
, He tells of having been in that sec
ton of Moline in company will
Luecke on the hunt for victim
and of approaching DIR. West from
behind. Potter said that he carrie,
water pistol that had the appear
ance Of a real weapon, whil'
Luecke toted six-shooter withou
any bullets in it to shoot. Thei
method was to intimidate. DR.. Yves
was not permitted to face the rob
bers under threat Of the gun press
ing against his back. Potter ties
titled that they relieved him of 81:
in cash and the {. oils were later di
vided evenly. The youths ran from
the scene when their job was com
pleted. They sought the quietud
Of Riverside park in Moline to spill
the money and then made their wa,
to Rock Island by circling aroun,
, Twenty-seventh street, and thel
west on the bluff district in Mo
line to Fifteenth street. where al
Elm street car for Rock Island wa
boarded.
Holddp Gets Convert.
Potter's manner of meeting will
Luecke for the first time was quit
removed from the ordinary. /
week prior to the robbery of Dr.
West, Potter was on his way to hi
home late at night. He was halte,
by a would-be robber at Twenty
third street and Fifth avenue, Rocl
Island. Potter felt not in the leas
concerned, for he told the holdu]
man it was waste of time to sto]
him as he did not possess an,
money. The holdup showed uneasi
ness because of the proximity o
light from store building an,
moved back into the shadow. Pot
5 ter smiled at him with:
"You needn't be afraid Of me. In
not going to boiler for help"
Whereupon the pair decided t
! get better acquainted.
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