The Rock Island Argus and daily union., 1922-08-04

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Lad to . solution Of the mystery,
Il will be through q private detec-
two agency. preferably one Of ma
tional reputation. Finances for
such an investigation would have
= to be authorized by the board Of
supervisors.
Sheriff John G. Miller stated that
he and his deputies are cooperat-
ing with the police department on
the mystery. The sheriff said that
he Is keeping in close communica-
tion with Chief Of Police Tom Cox.
and that together they are follow
ing q definite course of action.
The interview with States At
torney Bell developed the fact his
Office is not In touch with the po-
lice ahd sheriff's investigation. He
profcAsed to be In the dark as to
any angle. clue or theory on which
the departments may be at work.
He said that no information had
been volunteered, and that he has
not sought any.
Have you done anything thus
far?" the states attorney was
asked.
Nothing, aside from cursory
investigation OF the immediate facts
ON the morning following the mur-
der" was the reply. Il took occa-
sion to examine Gabel's automobile
and question persons who claimed
to have heard the shots. l sought
to interview the widow but was
only able to learn indirectly that
she did not care to confer with me
at that time.
II went to the widows residence
in company with a friend of the
family. He talked with her and
reported to mo that she preferred
to wait until she saw her attorney
before undertaking to throw any
light on the mystery. There was
some intimation that she had
knowledge OF threats being made
against her husband. l felt that
she had right to act as she DEEM
ed best.
do you propose to sift into the
mystery. he was asked.
"As to that don't care to say at
this time, but l will say that il an
investigation Is undertaken by the
states attorneys Office it may be
with the aid Of a private agency.
In the larger cities the states at
torney has special officers assigned
to his direction at all times, but
here we would have TO rely upon
a special appropriation to finance
the work"
Have you been in touch with the
police?"
NO, have not. In fact l have
heard nothing as to what the po-
lice, sheriff or coroner may have
as to clues or theories"
Sheriff N0n.CommittaL
Sheriff Miller was non-committal
other than to assure that he has
been giving undivided attention tc
the mystery since it developed. He
said he has been working on the
case without any noise.
& Were you invited to join the po'
lice investigation? lie was asked.
Y mo, not exactly. l simply went
to the chief after the murder and
we got busy
"Are you following any theory Of
clue?"
well, yes. We, are following {
definite line Of investigation"
"Do you expect any material de
velopments within the next few
days?"
m las to that, it is hard to say"
Question BesS Elliott.
Bess Elliott, until recently as
sOciated with Bill Gabel in opera
ton of the Gabel place. 1919 Fourtl
avenue. has been questioned by tn
police as to her knowledge OF event
which led to the murder Monda
night, it became known today.
The Elliott woman, talking t
reporters later, claimed to know O
the existence of an organization il
Rock Island which extorted none
for protection of liquor and vic
activities, said that it gave immu
nifty to those who paid and deal
out 'justic" to those who were lal
1t was this organization, sh
claims. which was responsible fo
Gabels murder. He had been pay
ing protection money, the womal
asserted, but recently broke" wit
the gang and refused to contribut
further.
She also repeated the allegation
that Gabel had been informing fed
eral agents Of the activities OF thi
group in controlling Rock ISLAM
underworld life. particularly as re
lated to sale Of liquors.
When asked il anyone whom
Bess Elliott named as having re
ceived money from Gabel and he
had been called in and questione,
by the police, Chief Thomas Co,
said that she had not mentioned
the alleged "shakedown" in Won
versation with him.
He implied that this and othe
statements Of the woman were NO
sregarded by the police as havin,
suiiicient bearing on the question
of who shot Bill Gabel to warran
y police investigation Of them.
8 Whether the police will make al
{ effort to get to the bottom OF wha
Bess knows about payments Gabe
formerly made and Of late refuse,
to make. for protection" as throw
ing light on . possible motive 10
3 the murder Of the saloon keeper
was not indicated by the chief.
The police have stated that the,
have no trace of the murderer
Chief Cox points out that the onl
( known eyewitnesscs of the crime
except the six men Mrs. Elixabetl
Thorpe says she saw in the deaf
Car, are neighbors who only "a,
the car arrive and depart and can
not describe even the approximat
4 appearance, AZ the gunmen.
A. yanlshes.
In turping the corner Of Tweu
sety-third 1atrUet, on Fourth ayonul
%n fAN nnossuNda uRfae thn nf.Hs.l