75 years ago: Convict fled to O’Fallon in violation of his parole so he could eat
On the evening of Nov. 4, 1948, O’Fallon Police Chief William Morton had an unusual encounter with a desperate convict.
Here’s how the O’Fallon Progress reported his story.
“Chief of Police William Morton was somewhat taken aback last Thursday night when a stranger, introducing himself as Winfred Prather, 27, of Gulfport, Miss., surrendered by telling the officer ‘I am deliberately breaking my federal parole as I am penniless and hungry. I have had nothing to eat for three days.’
“Prather, in relating his story to Morton told he decided to cross the Mississippi River into Illinois to give himself up because he wanted something to eat. He stated that he was convicted of a federal offense in Atlanta, Ga., June 11, 1945, and was sent to the Medical Center for Federal Prisoners at Springfield, Mo., four months later. He was paroled last October 27 after serving more than three years of his five-year sentence.
“‘When I got out of the center,’ he said, ‘I was sent to St. Louis with instructions not to leave Missouri. I had $18 with me and I soon went broke. I could not get a job because of my parole record. I applied to the parole agent in St. Louis but he would not help me. For three days I went without food so I decided to break parole by leaving the state and then surrendering.’
“Morton took the man into custody, gave him some food and notified the sheriff’s office and Deputies Herman Schade and Philip Lippert took the prisoner to the County Jail and gave him another meal.
“The incident was reported to the Federal authorities who later notified county officials they were not interested in Prather and he was released from the County Jail.”
75 years ago, Nov. 11, 1948
Members and friends of organized labor, veterans and patriotic organizations are being urged “to refrain from purchasing merchandise in St. Louis on Armistice Day, November 11th” according to an appeal by Retail Clerks’ Local No. 371 of O’Fallon.
This, it was announced, is in accordance with similar action taken by the clerks’ union in this area.
The announcement sets forth that Armistice is a national holiday, set aside from others to pay our respects to those who fell in the World War which started April 17 and ended November 11, 1918, at Stenay, France.
“Each year on that date, several organizations, beginning with the veteran’s organizations, have set aside their work to pay their respects to those who did not return to their homes. Even though it is now three decades since the ending of that war, there is no diminishing thought on the part of the veterans who wish that they be entitled to march or assemble as they did in 1919 and has been the custom since. Armistice Day is a solemn holiday and should be observed as such,” the announcement said.
“Keep the home fires burning by patronizing the merchants in your city who observe Armistice Day, at all times, and make it a better community in which to live,” it concluded.
(In a separate article, the Progress reported, “Mayor Henry M. Hesse issued a proclamation urging the community to join in the nationwide observance of Armistice Day, Thursday, Nov. 11. ‘In expressing our devotion to the memories of those who fell on the field of battle in all our nation’s wars, it is only fitting that we set aside this one day of the year as a holiday in their honor,’ the proclamation said. The proclamation asked that all business places in the community be closed for the day ‘in order that everyone may join in this tribute to our war dead.’ Practically all retail stores, mines, industrial plants and other business houses will be closed for the day.”)
50 years ago, Nov. 8, 1973
Efforts to avoid the criticism and confusion that attended the erection of the new stop sign at State and Oak will be taken with future traffic regulations, according to Mayor Gary C. Mackey.
The stop sign went up at the corner two weeks ago after a number of council disputes and (was followed by) 34 arrests, two accidents, and numerous cases of hard feelings.
Mackey said that efforts will be made to avoid the problems generated at State and Oak when the newest stop sign change is made, probably in a couple of weeks, at Second and Vine.
The council, in this case, will eliminate a stop. An ordinance eliminating the east-west stop on Second street is on file in City Hall.
At present there is a four-way stop there but the council decided to eliminate the stop for Second street traffic.
Mackey said he will enlist the aid of The Progress to avoid the kind of problems that existed at Oak and State.
The city has now installed flasher lights at the east and west approaches to the new stop sign that requires State street traffic to stop at Oak. The stop sign drew mixed comments at Monday night’s council meeting. Mrs. Vi Hauptmann and Mrs. Irene Kimmle were critical of the sign.
Their opinions included a remark that the sign was hard to see before reaching the intersection.
Mrs. Kimmle asked why the fines differed with some having to put up $15 and others $25.
Chief of Police Darwin Lehmann explained the money was a bond posted and did not reflect the fine. The chief said the fine will probably be $10 and $5 court cost. Lehmann explained that police issued between 350 and 500 warnings before starting arrests.
Alderman Mel Wesemann of the Fourth Ward said he believes the sign works well and is needed. Mrs. Joan Weinel, wife of the owner of business and residential property near the corner expressed thanks to the police and council for their work in getting the top sign erected.
The Weinels were instrumental in getting more than 200 signatures on petitions asking for the sign.
One letter read at the council was from a writer who signed herself Lynn McClary who termed the sign ridiculous and thought it was like putting a sign in the middle of the Sahara Desert. She said the council should use their energy on more useful projects such as a teen center.
One unidentified spokesman said the number of arrests showed the sign was needed but added it is too bad so many had to be arrested before being warned.
