The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-12-07

nAns IL grand jurors vefs unAb1el
to lonru. ~ 81 . 1etnfl % ~ ~
NOR that s1x men were actually m!
VOWED In the shooting. Exelndtng
Cox. the four others namsd II thG
irtfictmenf-LOOnsy, Pedigo. Rict-
ards and WaIker-are expected 70
b charged with having fired the
fatal shots when the case comes 10
trial. There 10 no question bet
that Conner Looney would have
! been named II he was alive.
| Gettink Reyenge.
Sinclair's revelations to the
| grand jury OF the alleged plot I
said to have beeen prompted By q
| spirit OF revenge on John Looney
for alleged wrongs. Although Sim
clair for two years was attached
to the Looney forces. 1t is reported
that he wasted no love ON his en-
ployer. This feeling Of resentment
! Is understood to have developed
when Sinclair discovered Looney
was not meeting al obligation
which Sinclair had entrusted to
him.
Sinclair. it appears. was on the
Looney pay roll as printer at $50
| per week. Illness developed in the
Sinclair family. and the printer
asked Looney to withhold SIS each
week and with that money pay
hospital and doctor bills. Looney
agreed to do this, but months after
ward Sinclair is said to have learn
ed that the promise was never full
filled. Sinclair openly insisted that
Looney return the sum withheld
and begin payment again Of $50
per week.
Sinclair Under Cover.
About this time Conner Looney
was arrested in Davenport on a
liquor charge. The matter came
up for hearing in the United States
commissioners court. Sinclair was
introduced as a witness by John
Looney, who was defending his
son. The court attempted to estab-
lish Sinclair's connection as a
prejudiced witness against the gov.
eminent. In reply to questions
Sinclair admitted he was the
printer Of the Rock Island News
He denied any knowledge of who
his real employer was. He said he
was sent to the News plant through
union channels. His weekly pay
he said, always appeared on his
linotype machine every Monday
morning. He is reported to hGt
testified he received s25 per week
y Following this Looney is said tt
have served notice on Sinclair
that since it was a matter of courf
record that he didn't know who
employed him and that he received
SIS per week. He is said to have
told Sinclair that it would be use
less for him to attempt to collec
any back money, nor return to thu
old scale of pay, as the court rec
ords could be produced to disprovt
his claims.
: This incident burned deeply il
the heart of Sinclair. According tt
the story that is told, he remained
} in the Looney roost with only on,
purpose in view. and that to som,
day turn the tables. Sinclair, lik,
Others, was not permitted to par
iticipate in the inner councils of tn,
order, but his unusual efforts tt
: learn what was transpiring are &C
counted for on the basis of hi.
trouble with Looney. Sinclair il
( said to have made the cracks ant
holes in the ceiling above tn,
J council chamber purposely tt
!, hear what was said.
I Manager Of Rex.
Joe Richards, alias Joe, tn,
/ Gadget, lived in Rock Island eigh
, or ten years prior to his hasty de
parture when state investigator
were sent here. The Gadget was
name given him by friends and &C
. quaintances because few knew hi
t last name. The nickname carrie,
no particular significance. Rich
ards came here from a small low;
. town. He worked at various job
. until the outbreak of war, when b
. enlisted in Battery D of Davenport
: Richards saw active service il
: France. and at the finish of hostil
l tiles returned to Rock Island
: Looney got hold of Richards on,
day, when Joe was practically pen
I niless. and established him a
. proprietor of the Rex hotel. Hence
forth Richards was a man o
0 means.
Leonard, Walker. the negro nam
4 ed in the indictment, was brough
S to Rock Island several weeks prio
: to the Gabel murder. He wa
4 known generally in the underwood,
Las a bad niger" He was mad
a On associate Of Emeal Davis an,
6 made manager of the Red Rose, i,
4 Davenport. Later he was brough
\ to Rock Island as bartender at Da
$ Wis Third avenue place. Hi
/ squalid appearance earned him tn
s nickname of Fat" Shifty eye
$ and quick temper earned him hi
e reputation al a bad Niger" cou