The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-09-21

police headquarters the evening of
July 81 and started out to cover his
beat. When he reached the Bur-
Iington station, Twentieth. street
and Second avenue, at 1880, he was
ordered by Chief Thomas Cox to re-
turn to the station and remain there
for the night.
Officer Charles Miner, in accord
ance with instructions from the
chief Of his department, reported
at police headquarters in plain
clothes the evening of July 81. In
accordance with the orders of his
chief. Miner stationed himself oppo-
site the Sherman hotel, Third ave-
nue. and Seventeenth street, of which
Lawrence Pedigo is manager, re-
manning there until l o'clock in the
morning. Miners orders were
simply to watch the Sherman house
He was not ordered to arrest any
women who might be seen going
into the hotel or to ascertain
whether there was gambling or
liquor selling being carried on in
the hotel. Miner made no arrests
while stationed at the Sherman no.
tel. II.
The Kruger Incident.
Officer Gus Kruger, regularly
assigned at night - the beat on
which the Gabel place is located
went on his vacation July 81. Krue-
or and Gabel we're friends. krue-
is the officer who refused to as
st in the raid of Bessie Elliott's
i4sCrt without orders from his
ohief. Kruger had been ordered
by John Looney to assist in such a
raid and when he declined to do sc
was attacked on the alleged
grounds that he had refused to aid
q brother officer in making an ar
rest when he was requested to dc
so. The Kruger case was brough,
before the board of police and fire
commissioners. Kreuger gave full
explanation of the incident, and
was unanimously sustained by the
board and instructed in the future
TO take orders from no person other
than the chief of his department
This incident gave rise to reports
that Chief Cox was to be dismissed
or disciplined by the board OF police
and fire commissioners for permit
ting Outside Interference with his
men in the performance of their
duties as patrolmen. Mayor H. M
Schriver interceded for the chief Of
police and counseled against the
board being too severe in dealing
with the chief because Of single
error. The mayor issued state
ment absolving the chief, and took
occasion to pay him high tribute
on his efficiency as police officer
end department executive. Gabel
was murdered the same night the
board of police and fire commits
soiers accepted the statement OF
the mayor UNFOLDING his chief OF
police. s
AZ 1870 the night of July 81, one
of the men whose name is on the
checks turned over to government
prohibition agents by Bill Gabel,
dropped into police headquarters,
spoke to Officer Edward Miner,
who had been called off his beat
for the night by the chief Of police.
then returned to his car and sped
away from the station, ostensibly
in the direction Of his home. There
can be only one inference in this
late visit to police headquarters OF
the person in question. and that
was to make sure that Officer Ed
ward Miner was not on his beat.
PeIice without Clues.
The morning after the murder
inquiries at police headquarters as
to whether the police had any clues
or suspicious drew the answer that
nobody cared much even If Gabel
had been killed. There was mani
lest an intent to make light Of the
shooting. The police were asked II
they had any theories to advance,
but such questioning was met with
slight Enlightenment beyond a sug-
gestion that it looked like an out
side Job.
The Argus, sensing the temper OF
public sentiment, suggested to May
immediate and concerted action on
Inc part of the police department to
round up all suspects in connection
with the Gabel killing. The mayor
consulted Chief Cox and they
agreed that the solution Of the Ca
Del murder would have to take the
usual course followed by the de-
paf'ment in handling OF such
efiMes. Sometime later the county
BOARD of supervisors offered re-
ward OF $1,000 for the sapture of
,ne Gabel murderers. After the
.apse OF few days theories flew
,alck and fast in the Gabel murder.
q was not difficult TO trace the
source Of these theories. They
were conceived in the minds Of
.aose who were seeking to divert
suentlon from those who in the
fuShc mind had been Immediately
inspected in connection with the
Miiihg OF the Fourth avenue bar
ONier The first theory advanced
vas that Gabe. had been disposed
by friends Of Connie Gleason,
~" serving a penitentiary sentence
~ swlndling. Gabel had been par
u Hsliy responsible for the convic-
s sTE OF Gleason, having furnished
suence against him concerning a
ianeup in Chicago by which Gabel
~. considerable sum OF money.
Gunner story was to the effect that
ISaoei had given evidence to prohi-
m MON agents divulging the names
II = pooze wholesalers in Peoria from