Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1917-12-27
TWO men ARE
ROUGHLY HANDLED
Alter Action Taken by County De
Tense Council, Citizens Take
Matters in Their Own
Hands

There was tense excitement in Au-
dubon yesterday afternoon and ev-
ening which eliminated in what
might be termed the near hanging"
of two men of the county. The entire
matter rose over the report of the
disloyalty of Fred Tennigkeit and
Rev. E. ]. w. Starck. So persistent
had been the reports during the past
two weeks that the Council of De-
tense thought it high time that some
measures be adopted to put stop to
the pro-Germanism that seemed to
prevail in various parts of the county
H. G. Yackey, state agent Of
Harlan. was asked to be present at
a hearing which was held yesterday
afternoon at two O'Clock. Rev.
Starck and Fred Teningkeit were
ummoned to appear, as were also a
number of the complaining witnes-
ses. We have not the information
at hand charged against these men,
but there must have been sufficient
evidence to convict or the Council
of Defense would not have taken the
action they did.
Both these men were given a Sc
we're grilling by members of the
Council and Mr.. Yackey, and the
universal opinion prevailed that the
men were guilty. Fred Tennigkeit
is reported to have made disloyal re-
marks at a public sale last week and
among the statements charged to
him was unfavorable comment con-
corning the Red Cross drive last
week. He was informed that If he
would purchase a thousand dollar
liberty bond the Council would give
him another chance. provided he
would cease making disloyal re-
marks. This he agreed to do and
Mr.. Yackey accompanied him to the
First National Bank where he made
out the necessary papers,
While the transaction was going
on, the people who were on the
streets, were not satisfied with the
decision of the Council, at once
formed a mob in front of the bank,
which continued to grow in numbers
until no less than two hundred peo
pie were ct the front door Of the
bank and half that number at the rear
to see that he did not escape. In
the crowd were men with rope and
there were many threats that he
would be hanged as soon as he came
out of the building. He remained in
the building almost two hours, hop
ing that the excitement would die
down and that the crowd would dis
perse. But the longer he waited. the
larger the crowd became.
A little after six O'Clock he left the
bank and no sooner had he stepped
outside than he was taken hold OF
by members Of the crowd. A rope was
put around his neck, and half chok
ing. he was dragged down the street
He was questioned as to what he in
tended to do and he told the CROWD
that he had purchased liberty bonds
This did not satisfy them and they
demanded that he also make con
tribution to the Red Cross. BY tn,
time he was released he was so veal
that he had to be assisted to the
court house. After he revived some
what he was taken to his home cas-
of town a few miles by county Off
Gals. who on examining the premise,
found two loaded revolvers and ;
shot gun. These were taken il
charge. After getting little chang,
from the men in order to leave tn,
county. he took his team. which hat
been driven home for him, and left
supposedly for parts unknown. How
ever, he returned to his home late
on account of the tongue to his bug
gy being broken. He went to tn
home of Clint Leonard and settle,
up with him for the work he ha,
done and made arrangements TO
him to feed his stock on the place
This was about midnight. Early thi
morning his house was deserted, an,
it is supposed that he has gone +
Colorado. Tennigkeit is a man abou
thirty-five years of age and single
Rev. Starck. who is pastor Of tn
German Lutheran church in Lincol
township. had been investigated b
the Council before. In fact, las
summer the Council forbade. hir
from preaching in German and pla,
ed other restrictions upon him. Thi
he is supposed to have ignored. II
was examined by the Council and MI
Yackey, who upon considering hi
case. gave him three days in which {
, prepare to leave the county. Re,
, Starck left Audubon with his famil
shortly before six o'clock. The e,
element occasioned in the handlin
) of Tenigkeit had now been famed II
: to large flame of mob spirit. Som
one suggested that they 60 at ono
} Ito the home of the German preacl
} err" No sooner had the remark bee
, made until several auto loads of oil
: and young men equipped with gun
rifles, revOlvers and rope were O
their way to the home of Rev. Stare
3 ten miles north Of town. Here
3 number of men were put on pick,
7 duty while others went to the hous
: and demanded Rev. Starck. The
were informed that he was not
home. and while a search of IL
house was being made, Rev. Stare
7 came from the cellar Of the hou,
, and escaped through small windo'
! He was not seen until he had mac
considerable Roadway. In an instal
; several shot guns we're fired in
: the air and a command made
halt" This he did, and half frigf
!. ened to death he tried to reason Wi
the men. He was later led ba,
: home and made to promise that |
. would ever remain true, loyal ci
!, izen of the United States and won
u place Old Glory on his home and Il
: church. There were still those
u the crowd who demanded that pu
ishment be melted out to him, al
had II not been for the wife and fal
lily, together with the demand by q
y cooler headed ones in tie crowd tn
r no violence be done. something d.
4 parate might have taken place.
e Mrs. Starck, who is in very po
q health. was completely overcome
D the turn of affairs. A physician w