The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-11-20
fHE LooNEY RoosT is RAIDED.

The attention Of the reader is directed to
III story appearing on another page OF this
ejpning's Argus descriptive of police raid on
~ home Of John Looney at 2o12 Sixteenth ave-
n0e 1t was necessary for the officers to force
tljeir wat into the building in order to obtain
custody OF persons and evidence desired by the
stAte authorities in the investigation OF crime
sld vice conditions in Rock Island. Shotguns,
yihes, pistols and bombs were among the evil
d@nsce seized by the raiders. You wouldn't
have been surprised at learning that there were
bombs at Rock Island arsenal, but you must be
somewhat shocked to think that such weapons
formed part of the destructive equipment main
ta3ned at the Looney establishment in one OF
the choicest residential neighborhoods in your
II city. II was from this roost in the side of the
htl that Looney issued his filthy newspaper, the
Instruments with which he intimidated officials
ana citizens to do his bedding in the commun-
ity.
For months Looney had maintained an
aimed guard of underworld characters at his
Sixteenth avenue property, menacng the
ntighborhood and disgraciEg the city. They
were for the most part irresponsibles who
might have at any time even without provoca-
tipn opened fire on passing conveyance or
Pedestrian. Women and children in the neigh
borhood were in constant fear Of the charac-
Il tors that were housed in the Looney place, but
the, protests of neighbors fell on deaf ears at
tie' cityshall and the courthouse.
! When you protested against the Looney den
you were told that it could not be molested I'M
less warrant were first obtained. The police
yesterday morning raided the Looney home in
quest of evidence that might assist in solving
the murder of Bill Gabel, The Rock Island
police department was as familiar with the cir
cumstances of the Gabel murder "a hours after
1t happened are the state authorities almost
four months later. Lawrence Pedigo and others
could have been taken by the police as suspects
In the Cabel murder two hours after it it was
reported to the police The fact that neither
Pedigo nor any of his underworld associates
were ever questioned by the police authorities
precipitated the campaign against lawlessness
and the state investigation now in progress.
{ The Looney place was a den that would no
have been tolerated in any other civilized com
mnnity in the land 1t was the gathering plac,
OF criminals who thrved On plots against tn.
weak and errng. Its character was Away
4 Known to the officials of the city and county
4 but they svere prevented from disturbing i
through fear of the Shiny hand of John Looney
who was finally forced to fee to escape arres
4 by the United States authorities on charge O
A thievery.
u / An Argus reporter tells you in this even
n ings issue what the police found in their raj
n Sunday morning of the Lconey vice vulture.
Il roost. When you have read it The Argus be
/ leves that you will be convinced that thi
paper has not overdrawn the pictures that
has been painting of that hole in the hill an
ito menacing influence on the community. Tn
den has been rid OF its shotguns, rifles, bomb
and pistols; ii has been cleared of the yicou
h characters that infested it. The blackmailin
publication that the criminal crowd emplcye
ia. wiring tribute from the weak and erring ha
ceased as civic curse.
For this relief the people of Rock Islam
owe a debt OF gratitude to those who have bee
courageous enough to defy the dangerous an
destructive power that was welded in tn
community by Looney and his criminal cohort
and to provide the funds with which to defra
tho expense of the state investigation now i
progress. an investigation that would neve
have been necessary had the officials OF Roc
Island city and county dared to perform thei
sworn duty to the abiding people who ha
placed in their hands the trust and authority {
protecting them against such criminal prae
tices as were directed from the roost of tn
Looney vice vultures.