The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-11-20
SUNDAY MORNING RAID ON HOME
OF JOHN LOONEY BRINGS A CARGO
0FB0MBS, Guns, DIES, PICTURES

ganda has been printed into the
Saturday and special issues of
Looneys alleged newspaper, the
Rock Island News. The tlat-bed
press, linotype machine and a case
of type, together with a desk, ap-
parently used by the compositor,
formed the equipment. These were
looked over carefully. Search of
the dusty cellar failed to disclose
any secret openings or underground
passages such as were suspected to
exist there.
( With the secrets it has held for
years and the strange things which
have gone on in the house. it was
an Interesting study. Prominent IN
interest among the articles distrib-
uted about on the main floor were
two pianos, one in the front room
and one in the dining room.
Though their tone was not tested,
some of the bluecoats opined that
these must have been frequently
employed in afternoon black and
tan musicales.
Almost every room contained,
lying about in corners, burlap sacks
Of empty beer bottles. These, Off
GERS agreed. were intended to con-
tain more Of the furniture polish
whose doubtful effects were evil
dent on the finish of the Looney
battery Of pianos.
Hand Grenades.
Obviously to repel foreseen at
lacks on the place, six dangerous
looking bomb-like articles were
found carefully wrapped in oily
cotton in an old washpan which
stood on dresser in one of the
bedrooms upstairs. Each of these
rooms held its rife or shotgun.
Looney's fort was not prepared
fer an attack Saturday night, how
ever. for the bright front and side
post lights which have in the past
kept the vicinity for some distance
brightly lighted were not burning.
The garrison, too, Of :. the young
negro and the aged white man, was
not sufficient one to protect the
place should some sally by Loon
ey's enemies have been staged.
Evidence that Lawrence Pedigo,
Looney's first lieutenant, now i'm
prisoned in the county Jail ON a
charge of numbering William Gabel,
was preparing to issue a sequel to
the News beginning with next Sat
urday was found in the press room
and the adjoining basement This
fact had been known by the depart
ment detectives, but the evidence,
in the form of copy and contribu-
tons already being prepared. was
appropriated and turned over to
Mosher. The publication was to be
entitled ''The Eye-Opener".
Papers Not Important
That anything discriminating
against the LOoney aggregation will
be found in the mass of documents
which was seized is generally
doubted. The police believe that
Looney, before his unobtrusive de-
parture several weeks ago to parts
unknown, must certainly have gone
over all of his effects carefully and
taken from them anything contain
ing data which could be used
against him.
The place was canvassed, in less
than half hour, and at the end OF
the raid all doors we're locked Sc
curely, lights with the exception OF
one in the attic extinguished, and
the place was evacuated. It is be-
lieved that none Of the remaining
Looney supporters will have the
hardihood to visit it openly soon !;
police are watching the vicinity.
The big shaggy dog which was
outside guard" at the Looney re-
sort during the heydays and early
decline Of the immunity ring, was
left the sole occupant of the plant,
smiling mournfully around It for
some OF the cooked meat which It
was declared Was his only food.
He had greeted the. oficers vocif-
erously and with hravado. but be-
ing booted down the concrete front
steps by the No. 10 Of blueeoat,
sflenced his alarms and QUOTED his
ANGER.