The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-10-26
THE Il ARGUS LOSES A NEIcHBoR.

THE ARGUS LOSES A NEIcHB0R.
II you had been on Second avenue between
sixteenth and Seventeenth streets yesterday
AFTERNOON you would have observed mournful
procession leaving the Rex hotel next door
neighbor Of The Argus. You would have wit
messed the removal Of beds and furnishings
that had for three years been used to equip one
OF the most prosperous dives operated under
the direction Of the Rock Island immunity
ring John Looney was not present to diepense
LEGAL counsel in connection with the removal OF |
the Rex hotel effects, but Louis Ortell was at
hand to furnish bond in the event Of an emery |
ency and one Of the firing squad from the |
Ldoney barracks on Sixteenth avenue was pres |
ent to help in the hauling OF the furnishings
from the hotel TO the waiting truck. Joe Rich
ards, alias Joe the Gadget, who was understood
to be the manager Of the Rex hotel, was not
among those in attendance. Joe is said TO have
had pressing business in other parts when 1t
was announced that the attorney general Of
Illinois was coming to Rock Island to direct an
investigation of crime and vice conditions. 1t
has also been intimated strongly in police
circles that Joe might prove an interesting
case Joe has been greatly interested in the
Cabe case. and it was rumored more than
once that he was going after the reward offered
by. the county for the apprehension OF the
saloonkeeper's slayers But Joe suddenly be-
came an automobile enthusiast, having un-
expectedy become owner of a fine car, and he
devoted himself to joyriding. Joe gave the
boat great workout but he wasn't always a
sure pilot, and one day he came to grief in DAY.
enport. When Joe's car started turning turtle
on him he made arrangements forthwith to con-
uect with meal ticket in other parts.
ffThe Rex hotel has been known as one Of
he most Notorious houses of prostitution and
Gootlegging resorts in Rock Island. The police
lSan the beat knew what was Transporting
in the Rex hotel in the heart of the business
district, but he didn't dare interfere To have
done so would have meant his Job because the
u man behind the Rex hotel considered himself
above the law in Rock Isltnd, and he had been
Hroving since the advent of the present city
administration that he was. The Rex hotel
was one Of the immune resorts Of Rock Island,
it's manager authorized to ignore city officials
and police and to be unafraid of detection by
state or federal representatives.
There are II rooms in the Rex hotel. 1t
maintained as many as dozen women. The
Argus repeatedly had complained about the
Rex hotel to both city and county officials but
It discovered that it barking at q stone
wall The Argus tolerated the obnoxious con-
ditions in the Rex hotel until they became SO
hrazen that it saw that extreme and unusual
measures were necessary. The Argus was in
formed that John Looney would resist police
interference with the Rex hotel. Fully con-
scious of the power exerted by Mr.. Looney with
the city hall, The Argus discovered that there
would be no relief until there was change in
the chieftancy Of the police department. Today
v William H. Fitzsimmons is head of the Rock
Island police department, the Rex hotel is closed
and John Looney has for several days been
! lodging warrant of the federal grand jury
charging him with stealing an automobile
John Looney boasts in the official organ Of the
Rock Island underworld that Thomas Cox was
the best chief Of police Rock Island ever had.
John Looney, OF course, was speaking for him
self and not for the So per cent of the people
Of Rock Island who don't approve Of having for
neighbor such an establishment as the Rex
hotel has been for the past three years.
With the passing of the Rex hotel regime
and retinue The Argus will miss the frequent
Calls Of John Looney to that establishment,
presumably in the role of legal adviser, or
perhaps to furnish conveyance for the trans
Hortation to the bank Of the nightly earnings
II the prostitutes and whisky and dope
teddlers. Or perhaps Mr. Looney was an as
sistant plumbing or building inspector for the
fity. The Argus isn't positive as to that But
does know that for several weeks it has not
teen favored with a sight Of his fearless and
4ious figure as he swung majestically into the
avenue in his high powered automobile and
exchanged morning greetings with Joe the
Gadget, mayhap to counsel Joe on how he
should vote on the new Illinois constitution or
70 pass to him petition for county Judge for
Joe to circulate among the members of the
a Young Mems Christian association and the
Young Women's Christian association, the in
terests of whom Mr.. Looney pledges himself
70 defend to the last drop Of his blood Or
perhaps Mr.. Looney may have been comforting
with Joe over arrangements for the annual
banquet Of the Rock Island County Bar asso-
fiation. Mr.. Looney who is a member in good
(tanding Of the Rock Island County Bar asso-
{iation might have been chairman of the asso-
fiation's committee on arrangements for the
fnnuar banquet And Mr.. Looney might have
teen planning To hold the annual banqust oe
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