Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-11-15
MAYOR AND LEADERS
OF ILLINOIS TOWN
NAMED IN MURDER
Men Convicted of Staying
Publishers Son File
Accusations

hOON '1C1&AAN1J Liz INV.
Several prominent citizens of Rock
Island were under bonds of $4,000
today TO appear in circuit court
Monday for a preliminary hearing
on a charge of murder, in connec
ton with the death two years ago
of John C0nnor Looney, son OF
John C. Looney, former publisher
here, who is now held in Albuquer
que, N. NJ, for violation of the Dyer
act.
Young Looney was killed in an
alleged gun war for which An
thony w. Billburg and George Hol
sapple were convicted and sentenced
although they have not as yet
started their prison terms. 1t was
upon their affidavit that j. w. Pot
ter, publisher, and John NJ. Colligan
managing editor of the Rock Island
Argus; Jacob Ramser, jeweler, end
Thomas Haege, a clothier, were ar
rested yesterday on warrants charS
ing connection with an alleged con
spiracy to kill Looney. The affida
Wit also charged them with person
ally participating in the gun bas'
tie in which Looney was shot.
The affair in which Looney lost
his life was declared to have been
the climax of a cleanup campaign in
Rock Island
Others named in the Billburg af
fidavit as parties to the murder con
pncnnfip1G
the mayor, and several of the lead
ing bankers of the city.
The affidavits charged that the
four, with a number of other promi
nent business men and city Off
Gals, promised "Billburg and Hols
apple immunity for their part in the
attack on the Looneys, who were set
upon by a gang in pistol fight.
The fight, the affidavits said, was
the climax of series of meetings
of those named in the sworn state
ments, who planned to drive the ell
der Looney from the city.
No Prosecution Looked For
The accused had decided the au
thorities were lax and no prosecu
ton of Looney could be hoped fol
from those in power, since no actor
concerning the deaths of several meT
in gang fights in which Looney was
involved had been taken, the affi
daVitS said.
Billburg, Holsapple, George Buck
ley and Dan Drost were found guilty
of the killing and sentenced to pris
Application for new trials recently
were denied by the state supreme
court.
The elder Looney fled to New Mex
leo 10 days after his sons death
The affidavits said it was Ramsel
who suggested the party which re
suited in the killing of young Looney
in Market Square, in front of hote
managed by Lawrence NJ Pedigo, 6
codefendant with Looney in the in
dictment for the murder of William
Gabel, an underworld leader.
Billburg alleges he was called t.
Ramser's jewelry store and tina
from there the several automobiles
: carrying Jacob RamSer and severa
friends among them the men &C
cused by Billburg, proceeded to Mar
ket Square.
Billburg claims it was the inten
ton the afternoon or the killing tc
kidnap the elder Loney and Pedigo
carry them to a secluded spot, built
a fire under each and force them tC
confess the details OF the murder o.
Gabel.
Party Is Separated
The affidavit says Ramser anC
his friends were separated from Bill
!. burg and his aSsociatse in 'Marke
Square and that in the firing there
young Looney was shot by a mem
Der of the Ramser party.
Others named in the Bllburg af
fidavit as parties to the murder con
spiracy are: Mayor Walter A. Rosen
field; j, l.. Vernon, former presiden
OF the Peoples National Tank; Hugh
e. Curtis, president of the Rock Is
land Savings Bank; Morris Heagy
president of the Central Trust anC
Savings bank; M. II. Sexton, presi
dent of the National Association o
Minor Baseball Leagues and former
Rock Island police chief and other:
not identified.
Billburg alleges Ramser promised
him and Holsapple all possible lega
and political protection and that they
would not be punished for anything
they might do to the LooneyS; tina
Ramser convinced Billburg and Hol
sapple that they would be backed 10y
the majority of citizens if they sue
ceeded in Kidding the community o
the Looneys. Billburg admits he pro
. ceeded to execute his agreement Il
rid the city of the Looneys after h
was satisfied that the prominen
men mentioned by Ramser would
I fulfill their part of the alleged agree
ment.
The four accused by Billburg wer,
admitted TO bonds of $4,000 eacl
which was posted by leading meI
OF the city.
LOONEX WILL RETURN TO
PEORIA TO FACE TRIAL
ALBUQUERQUE n. NJ. Nov. 10
John c. Looney, former Rock Islant
publisher, expects to return t
Peoria. ILL.,, on December l, to fac
trial on a Dyer act charging. owe
which he recently lost a fight agains
eXtraUtion, it was said today. TIL
circuit court of appeals decide,
against rim in habeas corpus &C
tlon and me has decided to return
instead OF appealing to the Unite,
States supreme court, according t,
reports here. LooneY has a rancl
IN Rio Arriba county. While tn
charge on which he is being returne,
is for the interstate Transportation
OF stolen automobile. several othe
charges are pending against hin
there