The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1918-05-15
Details OF Prayer
Case, Now Up
For Trial

Collinsville, ILL.,, May IA. = The
lynching of Robert Paul Prayer, Ger
man enemy alien, on the morning of
April was the eliminating tragedy
in series of disassociated demon
strations which for several weeks had
been held in various sections of south
Illinois as warning to alleged dis
loyalists. The activities of persons
who counselled aggression against
Ipro-Germans previously had been con-
fined to the tarring and feathering of
their victims, painting them yellow.
forcing them to kiss the flag or to
make public manifestation of their al
Ilegiance to the government. Such
demonstrations were held in numer-
Gus small towns, for the most part
mining camps, where, it is said,
German agents fourished and carried
on their propaganda work almost in
the open.
Practically all of these outbreaks,
however, had been conducted with
|some semblance of authority and in
several instances with the tacit con-
Isent of civic authorities. AT no time
had anything approaching fatal vio-
|lence been resorted to, the accused
persons merely being given forceful
: lessons in loyalty.
Prayer, baker by trade and a
miner by force of circumstances, was
l29 years old, unmarried and lived in
|Collinsville. He was socialist and
on several occasions is said to have
been warned against his extreme
Views. A week before his death he
went to Maryville, small mining
}Camp six miles from here, and is said
ito have expressed himself vigorously,
out so far as is known his remarks
were not disloyal. On April he re-
turned to Maryville. Several miners
O. that city resented his presence
there and when they became menac-
ling Prayer left for Collinsville.
The miners followed him and at
the outskirts of this city met some
men in a saloon where Prayers al
legged disloyalty was discussed. The
men decided to punish him and as
They started up the street to perform
this act they gathered many recruits.
Shortly after 8 o'clock they found
Prayer. Barefoot and with an Amer
'ican flag draped around him he was
paraded through the streets. A local
policeman, sensing trouble, rescued
him from the crowd and escorted him
to the city Jail for protection. This
precaution was taken at Prayers re-
quest The crowd then dispersed.
Meanwhile, on order of Mayor Siegel,
all saloons were closed.
About II o'clock the MEN again
gathered In force to the number OF
300 and marched to the city hall and
demanded that Prayer be released to
them Mayor Siegel and two police
men barred their entrance to the hail.
the mayor appealing to them to- be
calm. They refused to. leave Siegel
parried for time and when he was as
sured that Prayer" had been spirited
away he allowed a committee from
the crowd to search the Jail.
! According to testimony given at
eoroner's inquest by Joseph Riegel,
he and another man entered the Jail
and finding no one there, went into
the basement Within few moments
Prayer was found hiding under ~
pile of thing. He was dragged out
and delivered to the mob which led.
him down the street.
All reports Indicate that at this time
there was no intention to hang Prag-
err 1t was planned to- tar and feather
him or administer some other severe
punishment. Once outside the city
limits il was found that tar and
Feathers were not to be obtained and
a passing automobile in which was a
rop, suggested hanging. The rope was
knotted around the mans neck and
he was escorted about a mile down
the road leading to st. Louis.
The mob stopped at large tree by
\ the roadside and after a few uh-
I availing attempts by older persons to
| throw the moose over limb, a small
I boy is said to have been boosted III,
tire tree where he quickly adjusted
! the rope.
Prayer then was drawn into the air
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