The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-11-21

X<z8SG<fs - w. SK~e
4homas Cox still taking q hand
~ direction Of the Rock Island
5lb department, over which he
Hfed Is chief until his suspen-
no months ago! william H.
1umOns, commissioner OF IRE
ri nablic safety, declares that Cox
1iY visited police headquarters
ep his suspension, and that be
absolutely no connection with
& assortment Fftzsimmons says
osries the keys to the CHEERS
- 1t the city nall and that he
q occupied the office since the de-
Rtufe OF Cox following the sus-
,ton 0xdered by the fire and DO
board. The board was there
~ summarily deposed by Mayor
n. Schriver ON the eve OF an
tsssigation of charges OF depart
mt Acknowledgement that had
IN entered against Cox.
n is known that Cox has been
Md by Mayor Schriver to resign
~ spare his administration fur
ner embarrassment, but this Cox
s1sdfastIy has declined to do, hold
~ that to do so woul1 be an ad-
nission OF the charges that stand
ssxinst him in the records OF the
n and police board. 1t will be
recalled that Cox, when summoned
hefore the fire ana police board to
explain the inactivity OF the depart
nent against law violators,j assert
d that for six months his Depart
nsnt had been demoraI,zed because
psfrolmen had refused to carry out
hb orders. In the meantime IL had
dsreloped that John Looney, known
10 have been interested in a num-
ber Of disorderly resorts, had been
authorized by Cox to use members
d the police department in making
arrests in the streets and in COD
tucting raids on resorts whose
owners had refused to be dictated
b by Looney. who had come to be
as ruler of the Rock Is
Ind underworld.
Doesn't Need Salary.
Cox has stated that he is not de-
PENDENT upon the income of the
position of chief Of police. but I'M
sss he is legally dispensed with as
i city employee he win have the
light to present claim for full
)ack salary at the close of the
|chriver administration. This will
mount to $1,000. The name of Cox
rs been dropped from the city
Ayfoll, but his legal status as a
municipal employee remains undis-
urbed.
The chief Of police is appointed
y the fire and police board. As
Dng as the city is without a fire
nd police board no further action
an be taken in the case of Cox.
Iayor Schriver has stated that he
still endeavOring to induce three
ltizens to accept appointment as
lembers of the board, but thus far
Q has been unsuccessful in his
pest
John H. Fender, Edward Bauers-
I'D and F. ]. Mueller are the mem
ers Of the fire and police board
opposed by Mayor Schriver. 1t is
Understood that all of them have
dictated willingness to return
ing enough to clear up the inves-
CATION of the police department
lat was under way when their
flcial terms were terminated by
ction of Mayor Schriver.
Thomas Cox remains in the CITY
I'D continues using the equipment
the police department. He has
cen doing this without the knowl-
lge or consent OF Chief William
!. F1tzsimmons. according to a
atement made by the latter yes
'rday Cox attended the Independ- |
lt-bears football game in Chicago
anday. When he arrived in Rock
land Sunday morning he was met |
the Thirty-first street station by !
police department automobile /
1ven by Rudolph Gundrum, his !
'n1n-law, and driven in the city |
n to his residence on Twenty
lird street.
Acts Without Orders.
chief Fftzsimmons stated that
ondrum had no orders from head
aafters to meet Cox at the Thirty
rst street station with police de-
Artment automobile. Therefore it |
assumed that Gundrum acted
pom orders from Cox when he
rove the police department car to
Y station and conveyed Cox to
: nome on Twenty-third street.
II Is understood that Chief Fftz-i
mmons is investigating the Incl
'nt referred to in order that he
~ De in position to offer full ex-
'anatlons when it is brought to
= attention at the first meeting
tne fire and police board, in the
'ent that the city ever again has
y and police board under the