Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1918-04-10
ENEMY ALIEN IS LYNCHED.
Illinois Mob Takes Summary Action
in Doubtful Case.

Collinsville, ILL.,, April 5.--Formal
investigation of the death OF Robert
F. Prayer, who was hanged last
night by mob which accused him Of
disloyalty, will be made next Mon
day, when Roy A. Lowe, coroner OF
Madison county, will hold an inquest.
No arrests have been made By
county officials, who spent the day
IN investigation, and none is antici-
pated until the inquest Monday.
Chief Of Police Staten, of Collins
vile, declared to-day that the iden-
tity of number of members Of the
mob was known to the authorities,
but that the local police would not
attempt to make arrests because the
crime was committed outside the city
limits.
Representative Of the State At
torney General and the Adjutant
General will be present at the in
quest, prepared to carry forward any
measures deemed necessary to appre-
hend those who participated in the
hanging.
Attorney General Brundage and
U. S. District Attorney Knots, at
Springfield, ILL.,, issued statements
demanding that the guilty parties be
prosecuted.
Federal Law Needed.
Mayor J. II. Siegel, Of ColinsYille,
declared he would launch no investi-
CATION on his own accord, but that he
stood ready to cooperate with State
and county officials. He said to-
night he had telegraphed to-day to
Senator Overman, chairman Of the
Senate judiciary committee, urging
Immediate passage Of the law impos-
ing y severe penalty on disloyalty. 1t
was his opinion, he said, that the vio-
lence Of last night was the result of
neglect by the Federal government
to furnish this penalty.
eve arrested man charged with
disloyalty last Sunday" he declared,
"but because Of insufficient evidence
under the present law we were una
BILE to hold him. The crowd last
night evidently believed that another
disloyalist was about to escape aud
took the matter in their own hands.
This deplorable act merely empha-
sizes the necessity for a drastic law
to apply in such cases."
So far as could be learned to-day
the action OF the mob was precipit-
Gus, and no person as yet has stated
concrete instance Of disloyalty. by
Prayer. 1t Is hnown that he regis
tered as an enemy alien at the office
OF the United States Marshal in st.
Louis on June 81 last, giving his oc-
cupation as a baker. He received
permit to enter all barred zones to
seek employment.
1t was also discovered that he reg
istered for the army draft ON June
5 last, and that in April, 1915, he
| caused the arrest Of man on a dis
| loyalty charge. His friends assert he
| was radical In his views on socialism,
tered the war he declared he was "all
| for America"
The mob idea had it's inception, 1t
| was said tonight, in saloon on the
from Maryville and Collinsville
gathered. Many Of them we're for
eigners, who understood little Eng
lish, and it is believed the remarks of
Prayer we're magnified with tragic
result.
Rumors~that powder had been
boarded in mines by Prayer, and in
his home were found numerous in
eliminating maps, also we're denied
by the authorities.
| Prayer was unmarried and, so far
as is known, has no relatives in this
country. Hew as born In Dresden,
and came to the United States in
1905.
| Incident Officially Discussed.
Washington, April 5.-Attorney
Generay Gregory took to the cabinet
meeting to-day report of tho lynch
| ing of a German, Robert P. Prayer,
at Collinsville, ILL.,, last night for dis
I cussion with President Wilson.
| Officials made plain that they de-
plored the incident, both because of
the effect in this country and also be-
| cause it Is feared reprisals may be
made in Germany on Americans.