The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-11-25
LEAKS AND SCOOPS.

Hill LEAKS AND SCOOPS.
u iIThs Argus Thursday reported to it, RCD
~ that grand jury indictments had been voted
einst City Attorney John K. Scott and
9qmas Cox. the suspended chief or police.
II (Aders Of other tri-city newspapers did not re-
i've this Information until "a hours later. In
t1esf words, The Argus accomplished what ii
<5pwn in newspaperdom as a scoop. 1t was
z ~ biggest scoop that had been scored in the
1&<ai newspaper field in years. The report OF
y 10 indictment of Scott and Cox was the most
tepsational disclosure in connection with the
He CRUSADE that is being directed by the attor-
~ general of Illinois.
1T was to be expected that there would be
lne comment over the fact that The Argus
Ms the only tri-city newspaper to print this
Important grand jury action. 1t was the occa-
Hon OF an inquiry in the grand Jury room.
There were charges Of q leak among the mem
: pefs OF that body Two Jurors were under sus-
6kion by their associates of betraying the
Hcrets Of the county inquisitorial body.
n Ordinarily The Argus does not feel called
tpn TO make explanation of the sources of the
Information that 1t furnishes its readers but it
es believe it only simple justice to say that
III report of the two indictments referred to
~ not come from member Of the grand
ytfy. This should absolve any grand Juror who
blight be under suspicion by his associates SO
far as he might be involved in connection with
The story printed by The Argus. The informa-
tion came to The Argus from an authoritative
source That should be enough for the mem
bers of the grand Jury
In this connection The Argus wishes to
call attention to practice that has been motor
iously prevalent during sessions Of the Rock
Island county grand jury. The underworld
element or its legal representatives never
AL to have one or more informers in the grand
3nfy room. In this matter The Argus knows
Whereof it speaks. For instance, John Looney,
prior to his unceremonious departure from
sse parts to escape a federal Indictment each
nv received reports of the proceed
l1Ss of the Rock Island county grand jury But
fpu didn't. You trusted your newspaper to
! hep you posted on the actions Of the grand
3ary. John Looney furnished questions to his
Grand Jury informers to be put to witnesses
lhAt appeared before that body. Looney was
20 thoroughly posted that in the event Of a
promised indictment against himself or a client
~ could have defeated justice throueh escape
Hpney is evading justice today because he was
tpt placed under arrest at the court house the
~ an automobile he is accused Of stealing was
Uncovered by the authorities. The criminal
&ament in Rock Island county has always kent
n close touch with the grand Jury, 1t Is always
ei4hfe distance ahead of the law.
f5sUnder strict adherence to the rules govern
rs grand jury procedure The Argus would not
lave published the Scott and Cox indictments
ttfil last evening. INT II It had waited that
441g it would have been "a hours behind John
tPeney and his cohorts. for they knew as early
- Wednesday afternoon that the indictments
Ncre to be voted The Argus did not have in
farmers planted in the grand Jury room, as
4ooney and his crowd did, The Argus does not
4tpop to such practices. The Argus received
- information just as any other ethical and
1onorable newspaper wsuld have done The
4ftus has decided that in future the taxpayers
N Rock Island county will have the news of
Qh grand Jury's actions at least as soon as the
44ng that makes most of the work that comes
4apre that body for investigation. And The
Argus proposes furthermore to make an effort
Future to warn members of the board Of
Supervisors against the appointment of men
Who have no regard for the sacredness Of the
9TH.
II Mr.-Scott and Mr.. Coz had been couple
g irresponsibies-eyen II they had been a.
dnwardly as John Looney-The Argus would
vt have announced that indictments had been
ypted against them in advance Of the return Of
~ indictments to the circuit court But The
4feus knew that Mr.. Scott ana Mr. Coz would
ready to offer bond when they were advised
~ 20 SO. Lconey ran away when he received
Up 4hat he was to be indicted. And The
Mus didn't give him the tip, either. Neither
The Argus sivsany tips to Mr.. Scott or Mr..
81 They didn't need any tips from The Argus
44cerning what was TRANSPORTING In the Grand
m room. It was not much Of 4 secret thurs
~ afternoon in the downtown district that
Scott and Mr.. Cox had been indicted. So
~ Argus simply decided that it, patiently
lfating readers In other parts Of ito territory
4eee entitled to the most important 1eveiop-
INT of the investigation, and performed its
4AU - an enterprising newspaper. Proving
4lts again that The Argus keeps no secrets
4nm its readers.
81