The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-12-15


vice, crime and graft situation
In Rock Island.
An early finish Il seen also
In the report that the grand
Jury has practically completed
its examination Of witnesses.
Thomas Marshall OF Chicago, spe-
cial states attorney in charge Of
the grand jury inquiry, said he
would return to Chicago this after
noon, and Indicated that the time
between now and Thursday would
be utilized BY him In drawing tpi
new indictments. This practice Of
the jury recessiRg several days in
order to give the officials in
charge opportunity to prepare the
Indictment papers has been gener-
ally observed since Attorney Cen
eral Edward j. Brundage assumed
charge Of the Investigation.
1t is q matter of conjecture as to
who will, be included In the list of
indictments yet to come, but ru-
mors point strongly toward the
naming of at least two city officials
in graft cases before the grand jury
announces its work completed.
With only three days at the most
for the grand jury to be in session
next week, and with Christmas
coming on the following Monday.
it is freely predicted that when the
Jury reconyenes it may be ready to
vote the last OF it's indictments. The
present week was given over by the
grand jury exclusively to the hear
ing of evidence and contrary to ex-
pectations the only indictments re-
ported were those having no rela-
ton to the activity OF Attorney
General Brundage's agents.
Market Square, Battle.
Who will be indicted for particle
patton in the Market square street
battle of Oct. 6, in which John Con-
nor Looney lost his life?- This Is
a question which is agitating not
only the public, but the grand jury
as we'll. 1t is understood that the
evidence Of the shooting has been
SO conflicting as to make it proba-
bic that only two of the five de-
PENDANTS now held on bond for the
killing of young Looney will be
named in an indictment. It is un-
derstood that the state officials,
after considering SO many stories
of the conflict between the two
rival gangs of, Rock Islands under
world. are having difficulty trying
to decide where the blame for the
shooting rests. In many cases wit
nesses have given two versions or
what they knew or saw. Their
change of mind may have been In
fluenced by the departure OF John
P. Looney, it is believed. for after
he deserted his gang witnesses who
previously gave versions OF the
shooting decidedly against A. W.
Billburg, George Holsapple, George
Buckley, Dan Drost and Tommy
Murray, the five defendants to the
shooting, later testified that young
Looney fired the shots that precip-
itated the fusilade which resulted
IN his death.
Dietx Talks with Hadley.
Cyrus f. Dietz, attorney for
Thomas Cox, conferred with Spe-
eial Prosecutor Charles W. Hadiey
for an hour this morning at the
court house. 1t was stated that the
conference had to do with the Ques-
ton Of admitting the former chief
OF police to bail on the charge OF
numbering Bill Cabel. Mr.. Dietx
stated that he does not intend to
make any determined move for
bonds until the special prosecutor
mas had time in which tor consider
all the angles Of the Gabel case.
Among the witnesses examined
1 BY Chief Investigator II. 8. Mosher
this morning was John "Shorty"
Burns. a negro, who served as 2
cook at Emeal Dayis' restaurant.
Burns was grilled for several
hours. but was not taken before the
grand Jury.
MRS. COWLEY DIES.
FfeopOrf I'll. nAc 1k-Nr8. LOu-