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CAUGHT W|ILLIBETHtIEDIIrIiiIiT1fVIOLATIONiIACTU. S. Commissioner in NewMexico Hears CaseUSED STOLEN CARrffJOHN LOONEY.Fugitive publisher of the Rock Island News, wanted on charges of murder and various other crimes, who was captured near Albuquerque, N.M., and who is to have a hearing there today.Automobile Stolen From JInscatlne Brings About Downfall—Wanted on Over a Dozen Charges.Albuquerque, X. M., Nov. 30—John Looney, former Rock Island publisher and politician, will be arraigned this afternoon at 4 o’clock before a United States commissioner on a charge of violating the Dyer act agafnst Interstate traffic in stolen automobiles.He was taken before the commissioner this morning but refused to plead until his attorney arrived from Santa Fe .Looney today persisted in silence and would say nothing regarding his case beyond the fact he was on his way to his ranch in Rio Arriba countyyesterday ■when he was arrested at Belen. He was asked if he had been in Mexico but would only say he had come from the south.Looney, who disappeared from Rock Tsland in 1922 during an investigationof vice and gambling conditions forwhich he was alleged to be responsible, was arrested (at Belen. N. M., Wednesday and brought to the countyjail here last night. He admitted his identity to United States District Attorney George R. Craig, Mr. Craig said lost night.Ijooney is said to own a 20.000 acre ranch in Rio Arriba county, N. M., to which he was followed by a posse recently, after it was reported that he had been in Santa Fe to consult e lawyer.Not Afraid of Charges.According to the district attorney. Looney said he was not afraid of charges against him, but that, his political enemies in Illinois would get him” if possible.Looney was editor of the Rock Island News, which has since been closed. A series of eight killings led to the investigation of vice conditions inRock Island.^Looney last night refused to talk tonevrspaper men.i%LOCAL CAR CAUSED LOONEY’S DOWNFALLIt was a Muscatine automobile thatbrought about Looney's downfall andhis flight to New Mexico.The car, a Hudson, was stolen fromCharles J. Dyche, proprietor of a garage at 419-423 West Front street. Aug. 29, 1922. It was discovered Oct. 18 on the premises of Henry McCarty, Thirty-fourth avenue, Rock Island. It had been repainted, the numbers were filed off and other efforts had been made to prevent identification.Says Looney Hinted Trouble.McCarty told police that Looney had placed the cor in his garage for storage purposes, Sept. 1. Later he saidthat Looney had told him that there might be a little trouble over the carand desired to keep it in storage for awhile.These events transpired during the Rock Island ‘‘vice war,” which culminated in the murder of Looney’s son. John Loonev, Jr.. in a gun battle on the Rock Island streets. Oct. 6. and the subsequent killing of sevenmore.Charge Dyer Art ViolationFederal authorities and state officials of Illinois, in a probe of the vice war, turned their attention to Looney’s connection with the theft of I the Muscatine car. Looney was indicted by a federal grand jury at Pe-'oria on three counts—theft of an(Continued on Page 16)
Newspaper Details
Muscatine Journal and News Tribune
Muscatine, Iowa, US
Fri, Nov 30, 1923
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Anne C.
NA, 03 Apr 2023
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