The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-06-08
GRAND jury
White
GROVES GANG
Fails to Solve Murder
of McSwiggin

The special grand jury that was.
impanelled to investigate the murder
Of William II. Meswlgein, assistant
states attorney, in company with
carload of gunner and sanssters en-
gagged in the business Of beer running
failed to report on the facts of the
staying but INDUCED in a wholesale
whitewashine of States Attorney
Robert E. Groves office.
Strong criticism from Coroner Oscar
Wolfe, Harry Eugene Kelly, head of
the Union League Club, and numerous
other groups of officials and citizens
was directed against Groves Office at
the time of the murders. Demands
were made for a special grand jury
with a special prosecutor to investi-
gate the affair. In order to avert in
vestigation of his own Office and the
presence of his assistant prosecutor
in company with known gunner that
he, himself, has pretended to Cos
ecute for murder a few months before,
Grove and Attorney Oscar Carlstrom
fastened to improvise a grand jury in
order that they could keep the pres
entation of evidence in their own
hands.
The result was what was anticipated
from the frst-no solution of the
murders and a complete whitewash of
the states attorney Office and con-
demnation of those who endeavored to
secure an investigation of Groves Of
nee and his notorious political
machine which, it is charged, main
tains its power thru its alliance with
gunner and beer runners.
Afraid to Touch cunmen.
Because Of this alliance it was not
possible for a thoro-going investiga-
ton and as the special grand jury
passed out of existence it issued the
statement that a conspiracy of silence,
among gangsters and intimidation of
witnesses, make it almost impossible
to solve gang murders.
Praise for Grove for the efficiency
and energy with which he conducts his
office, was also contained in the report.
Following this, the report takes a slap
at Harry Eugene Kelly, president of
the Union League Club, who charged
following the murder of McSwiggin
that Grove was not competent to con-
duct the special grand jury quiz. After
naming Kelly and Coroner Oscar
Wolfe as obstructionists, the report
Ays:
Assails "Reformer."
Reform organizations, sef-appoint-
ed, self-styled reformers, organized
apparently for the purpose of securing
satisfactory remuneration for indivi-
duals. and often actuated by political
motives, are a detriment and not a
help.
Blaming the crime situation in gem
eral and gang murders in particular,
to prohibition, the report says:
BIames Public.
ut cannot be denied that there has
been a lack of acceptance by the pub
lie of the Volstead act. A large num-
Der Of persons have not accepted the
statute as a law of the land and are
willing to pay and do pay exorbitant
prices for intoxicating liquors, which
creates a field of activity and profit
unheard of in former times.
'"This Illegal traffic, being criminal
and without legal foundation, brings
about internecine warfare between
operating gangs who invade each
others territory, with the result that
they commit murder to carry on their
illegal commerce"
"colVin To Stay'-Len Small.
KANKAKEE, ILL.,, June 6. - "Will
Colvin has not resigned. So far as
know he will not resign. The situation
is just as il has been.'
This is the statement made by Gov.
Len Small at his home in answer to
reports that Colvin, head of the state
board of pardons and paroles, either
would resign or be removed by the
governor as the result Of grand jury
investigations into the alleged pardon
mill" in Illinois.