Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1922-10-07
HIT BY BULLETS
fired FROM AUTO
ANDIH0TEL WINDOW
Another chapter added to the eventful
life of John Looney, native Ottawan and former
attorney here, yesterday afternoon at Rock Island

AFTERNOON at MOCK lSldnQ
when his auto was rid
died by a volley of revol-
yer shots fired from a
hotel window as Looney and several
othes, including his son, were watch
ing a worlds series score board in
front of the Rock Island Argus,
daily newspaper office.
Conner Looney, the former Otta.
vans son, was shot five times and
died last night. Two others were
hit by bullets and are in Rock Island
hospitals. Looney, according to press
reports, fled from the auto at the first
shot and escaped uninjured, although,
it is believed, that the shots, which
pierced his sons body, We're intend.
ed for the father.
looney Frequently Attacked.
Attorney Looney, who left here sew.
eral years ago to take up the prac.
tice Of law at Rock Island, became
the editor of the News, a weekly pa
per which later was bombed and event.
ually resulted In riot. Looney him
self was several times attacked and
fired upon by gang of politicians,
some of whom were said at the time
to be members of the Rock Island
police force. The assault occurred,
it was announced at that time, in the
rear of the police station and alicest
resulted in Looney's death.
Federal court proceedings resulted
in the News being put out OF business
and Looney left Rock Island. A few
years ago he returned to the seat of
his former conflicts and reinaugurat-
ed the News. this time, IL is said, In
close harmony with the political pow
ers of Rock Island city and county.
Fights Argus.
For some time the News has been
carrying on campaign against ti 9
Argus and all its departmental chiefs,
the attack extending even to the wfd-
owed owner of the publication whose
character ii frequently attacked. The
sons of Mrs. j. w. Potter, the ownei,
were given the same treatment as
their mother, while the News emr
ployes came in for scathing articles
personal in nature and assailing their
morals and private lives.
The newest war in which MI.
Looney is said to have taken an ac-
tive part, came out of the shooting or
a saloonman named Gabel The Ar
gus blamed Looney henchmen for
killing Gabel, who was alleged to
have given government agents In
side stories of supposed Rock Is
land booze ring. From that time on,
the Argus said, Gabel was a marked
man. Gunmen hired for the purpose
of dsposing of the saloonman, are
said to have popped" him off one
night some weeks back, whilst he
stood in front of his place of busi-
ness unaware of his impending fate.
From that claimed expose grew
one of the bitterest fights tumultu-
Gus Rock Island has even known. Yes
terdays shooting was the aftermath,
and Rock Island is settling down to
await latest developments, which
promise a series Of disorders until the
situation is clarified and peace re-
stored after the warning gangs have
got themselves pretty well killed off.
Jerry Looney Funeral Monday.
It was expected that John Looney
would be here tomorrow to attend the
funeral of his brother, the late Jerry
p. Looney, whose death occurred ear
lier in the week in New Mexico. Mr..
L0oneys body will arrive in Ottawa
at o'clock tomorrow moning and
will be taken from the train to the
Dwyer undertaking establishment Bu-
rial services will be held Monday
morning at ST. Columbas church and
interment will be in st. Columba's
cemetery.
Ii is not expected here that the
body of the son will be brought to
Ottawa for burial, as Mrs. Loeney Is
buried in Rock Island.
Press dispatches telling Of yester-
days shooting say:
Rock Island. Oct. Two men were
probably fatally injured and third
slightly wounded this afternoon in
revolver battle in the downtown dis-
trict. The wounded:
Conner Leoney, %, Rock Island.
known as John Looney Jr., son OF
the publisher of the ROCK islahu
News. four bullets through his abdo-
men, fifth pierced his thigh.
Albert J. Allguyer, 29, Brooklyn, ~.
Y. one bullet through abdomen.
Dan Drost, 4S. Rock Island, former
News employe. flesh wound along LETT
arm.
The shooting was the outcome OF
1ua which WAS
started Aug. 1 with the murder Oh
Bill Gabel, although participants OF
todays shooting dater their enmlty
wears previous to the Gabel crime.
William (Crimps) Holsapple ana
A. W. Billburg, enemies of the Loon