The menace. [volume] (Aurora, Mo.) 1911-1920, 1914-06-06
BIZ JouS l. BRANDT, st. Louis. :


tvillc is an Illinois town Of about
$500 souls. Fully $500 Of these are
foreigners; during the elections, many
Of these foreigners, though unnatural.
med, at the instigstion Of unserupu-
lous politicians, cast their votes for
monetary consideration. A local option
campaign was 10 take place in George.
town township, In which westville is 10.
Gated, April 7th. Rev. Louis r. Pat.
mont was employed by the dry commit
tee to work in the interest Of local op-
tion. His services were secured because
Of his eminent ability. He Is able
TO speak a number Of languages, as well
as having a good command Of English.
His presence In the town Of westville
was soon felt in the interest Of TEN
perance and righteousness The people
lmong whom he worked were Of Catholic
persuasion, and while his efforts were
confined to the liquor cause, the differ.
enee Of religion was Of no small con.
alteration. He was repeatedly threat.
sned by a bunch Of thug-ugiies that fol
owed him during his work and the
committee volunteered to employ a man
% protect him, but Mr.. Patmont did not
Nink Il was necessary. However, during
Ne second week OF his work, he was con.
vneed that they intended 20 assault him,
md he asked that q man be engaged TO
accompany him in his work. This ar.
nngement was made March Slst and
The man was 10 begin his work April
lst. In the evening Of March SIst, Mr..
Patmont disappeared as II the earth had
swallowed him up. Every effort was
made 10 end him. Detectives were em-
ployed, and tho local committee and
his church friends prosecuted the search,
but 10 no avail. II was evident that
"Rum and Rome" had a hand in his
disappearanee. A saloon keeper pur.
ehased 500 copies Of THE MEEAcE and
circulated them among the foreigners
and had men detailed 10 report that Pat.
mont was circulating THE MENACE and
was one Of the correspondents Of that
paper.
This was done 10 prejudice the Cath.
olics against him. A report appeared
in one Of the westyille papers that Pat.
mont was an ex.priest Of the Catholic
church, which report was Of course false,
but the purpose Of IL was to stir up the
Catholics; the paper refused to make the
correction. Two saloon.keepers told Pat.
mont that he must leave the town or he
would see what would happen. On one
occasion be was assaulted and again -four
men tried 10 force him into an automo.
bileI
Prom the time he disappeared Il was
nearly two months before he was found,
most Of his friends and his relatives sup.
posed him 10 be dead and had given
up the search. On Saturday afternoon
May 23rd, about 4;30 o. clock, q farmer
by the name Of Reichert and a couple
Of his farm hands heard means com
ing from an old abandoned farm house
about two and one-half miles from Co
lumbia, Ill, . town Of ly5oo people, To-
Gated 20 miles from ST. Louis. They
proceeded 70 the house from whence came
the groans and cries, and there found q
man, supposed at hrst to be a eolored
man, because the manner in which his
hands were tied made them black and
the tight wire and rope around his necl
made his face black. He was tied buel
fashion with . stick two inches square
put under his Knees and over his arm,
At the elbows, his hands first having beer
tied. A 6lthy handkerchief was stuel
In his mouth to gag him, q gunny sacl
was over his head, q wire around hi,
. neck, and . large rope around his body
. cns end tied 70 beam and TIE other END