The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-11-24
four BILLS ARE
RE1URNED INTO
COURT By Jury
,tContinusd NON Y,rst P.sa.,

for . money consideration. tn
Indictment specifically charges thai
the defendants c0nspired and con.
federated To deliver the punch.
boards. slot machines and prisss
and to accept and receive bribes ID
their several ofices to protect thu
keepers Of such devices from ar.
rest and prosecution. It 10 further
charged that the keepers OF sucf
gambling paraphernalia were re
qufred to share their profits viii
Looney. Scott Cox. Pedaso ant
Kinner.
John Looney, recognized king oil
Rock Islands late underworld, il
named In two indictments. He /,
charged with conspiracy to furnish
protection to gamblers, and for re.
ceiving and concealing q stolen an.
tomobile. The automobile in ques.
ton is the one for which he VA.
indicted by the federal grand tur,
at Peoria.
Louis Ortell. who last nigh
gained his release on bond on q
charge Of conspiracy to murder
Dan Drost, is also named in thu
conspiracy against the law.
The indictment against Scot
charges that on Nov. Is, 1921. gam.
bling houses and saloons where Ii.
quor was openly sold were opera.
ted by Frank Eckstrom, Martin
Kinner. George Martin, Harry
Meanor, Joe Buranek, Al Schmidt
George Williams, G. A. Smith ant
Al Gregg. Billy Rice. Bill Cab i
Helen Van Dale, George Marshall
Neil Davis and Joe Merk Operated
joint saloons, gambling houses and
houses of ill-fame., In addition the
Indictment refers to $50 or more
gambling houses and houses O,
prostitution operated by divers 9th.
ers whose names are unknown tt
the grand jury.
Scott is charged with having haf
close personal knowledge of the
extent of the law violations, and
the indictment maintains that il
was his duty as city attorney te
prosecute in the name Of the city
Of Rock Island for the recovery Of
penalties provided by the city ord.
inances. He is alleged to have
failed intentionally in the perform.
ance Of his duty by reason of per.
sonal and financial interest in tn.
distribution, use and operation OF
punch boards and gambling de.
vices.
Official Protection.
The conspiracy charge against
Looney, Scott, Cox, Pedigo and
Robert Kinner covers Official pro.
lection in the distribution and us.
Of slot machines, punch boards
and prizes.
The second Of the indictment
for conspiracy naming we'll known
characters Of Rock Islands under
world, but excluding city officials
charges that on June rs. 1922, the
defendants were engaged in opera.
ting divers common gaming houses
located at 119 Eighteenth street
1916 Second avenue, and at 1871
Second avenue, where stud poker
craps, blackjack and dice were EN-.
ployed in games of chance.
The indictment points out tina,
the mayor, any city commits
sfoner, chief Of police or police Of.
ficer is empowered to seize or cause
to be seized any instrument or in
struments used in games of chance
to be demolished or destroyed un
der the direction Of the mayor.
The conspiracy specifically hinges
about the charges that the defend
ants sought "unlawfully and cor
ruptly to control, monopolize, regu
late, openly run and operate diver
gambling houses and gambling
equipment in Rock Island, and b,
unlawful and corrupt coercion, in
timidation, threats and duress t,
collect tribute and protection mon
ey for the unlawful right to con
duct, own and operate gambling
houses and gambling equipment"
The defendants are alleged Il
have purchased for corrupt mon
ey consideration in behalf of thes'
concessions immunity and protec
ton from police molestation an.
attack. Money, it is claimed. wal
offered and paid to public officials
in and for the city Of Rock Islant
as brides. presents and rewards fol
the privilege of unlawfully operat
ing gambling houses.
The indictments are understood
to have been based principally OF
testimony Of Cy Hazlett. former ed
itor Of the Rock Island News, who's.
split with John Looney caused hin
to become an informer; H. M
Mosher, chief investigator for tn
state; George Holsapple, membe'
of the opposing force in Rock Is
lands underworld; James Darnell
state Investigator, and Frank Eek