The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-11-02

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daiIy " fAo1san1s q women and cAildfsn, into
Dubiic resort catering 10 I'll forms y sndsf-
world lawfsssaess. Il became the hesdquartefs
q pfofsasional prostitutes, saqblsrs. dobs
peddIess, thieves and thugs. Pediso's house
Of crime ana vice operated openiy day and night
within the shadows Of the Rock Island city hall
and police headquarters. To Be exact, the
Sherman hotel IL located just one block east Of
the Rock fsiaad city hail. Pedigo ignored the
city han and the police department-and even
tn courts He took commands from only ons
man. That man was John Looney John
Looney promoted young Pedigo into public
character who recognized no law except the
AN Of the underworld. Looney was tie author
and exponent Of that law. Looney lifted
Psdigo from obscurity into couspicuity. And
he Likewise drove him from conspicuity into
obscurity.
Pediso IL the young man who few weeks
ago gave out interviews telling you that COW
boys were ON the way to Rock Island from
Looney's ranch in New Mexico prepared, TO
avenge the death Of Looney's son in an under
world gun battle in Market square. Pedigss
told You that the cowboys might take the law
into their own hands Pedigo wanted to create
q reign Of terror in your city. He almost sue
ceeded In doing it. You were afraid to VEN
ture away from your home at night because
you might have been selected as one ofthe VIC
Tins Of the New Mexico cowboys. The cowboy
story was scare, just another Of the ruses that
are employed as part Of the law Of the under
world Pedigo was feeling his oats. The news
papers were interviewing him. He had come
into his own. He finally was known for what
he wanted to be known-a dangerous\character.
a man to be feared by all mortals who might
have a notion that his authoritative wings
ought to be clipped. Pedigo had reason to feel
and published as next in command in the Rock
Island underworld to John Looney. Pedigo
carried gun and rode in big automobile that
snorted in the faces OF mere policemen who
might have their hats knocked OF by the breeze
that he created as he passed them by. Pedigo
participated in the gun battle on Market square
Oct 6. He emptied his gun into a crowd of
people gathered in the square
Pedigo has been acting as the associate pub
Usher of the official organ of the Rock Island
underworld and in that capacity has assisted
in the printing of scurrilous attacks upon de-
cent citizens of Rock Island. Pedigo also
served as one of the armed gunner protecting
the vice vultures roost while Looney was rum
ming away from his own shadow. Pedigo car
ried gun and printed indecent things in
Looney's alleged newspaper because Looney
told him he had right to do it, Pedgo prob
ably today would be earning decent liveli-
hood hadn't he gone into the Looney under
world camp.
Today Pedigo is under Bonds to answer to
charges of carrying concealed weapons and
| violating the liquor laws, and he may have
| more serious crimes to account for after the
| federal grand jury had the Rock Island county
| jury complete Investigations into events trans
piring In Rock Island in the past few months.
Pedigos castle of crime and vice has crumbled
1t has gone the way of the Rex and the Sand
Bar. and other brothels that were promoted
under the reign of Looney, reign that brought
upon Rock Island a community crisis that it
has required the power of the attorney general
Of the commonwealth of Illinois to dssipate
| Pedigo and his retinue are gone from Mar
| ket square. The sunshine and the fresh winds
| will clarity and purify the atmosphere. The
| ground is uncontaminated, and from its virgin
breast will be nurtured IN the course Of events
a structure that will erase from memory the
blot that Pedigo placed ON one of the promi-
nent corners of Rock Island
Looney is fugitive from justice, lodging a
warrant Of the federal grand jury charging
| thievery. Pedigo, one of the last of the Looney
gunner, has made his final stand against the
law. He made his departing bow at the Sher-
man hotel yesterday.