The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-04-05
Man Alleged to Have Made
Disloyal Remarks is Found
Dangling From Tree,
by Coroner.
LYNCHED BY LOYALISTS
Followed From Town Where He Made
Socialist Speech, by $50
Men Armed With
Rope.

UNITED Press Leased Wire Service.l
COLLINSVILLE, ILL.,. April s.
Robert p. Praeger, 45, alleged pro-
German, was taken from hiding in
the city hall here early today by
mob of $50 "loyalists' and hanged to
a tree two miles west of town. No
arrests have been made, although the
lynchers were not masked and were
said to have been led by prominent
citizens.
Early last night Praeger came to
Collinsville after evading a patriotic
band at Maryville where he was al
legged to have talked socialism and
made disloyal remarks. Members OF
the mob followed and captured him
here. $50,
He was compelled to march bare
footed and draped with an American
flag. down the main street. Police
rescued him and hid him in the city
hall basement The mob demanded
the prisoner and when refused, rush
ed past authorities and dragged him
from his hiding place beneath a pile
of things. Mayor Siegers pleadingS
were disregarded.
Still barefooted, Praeger was led
along the old national highway, with
a moose around his neck. Police and
the coroner followed an hour later
and found his body dangling from
tree.
Collinsville and Maryville are
small mining towns, fifteen miles east
of st. Louis.
While the mob was storming the
iail, searching for him, Praeger
wrote his parents in Dresden, Ger
many, this note:
Il must this, the fourth day of
April. die Please pray for me, my
dear parents. This is my last letter
and testament"
A second note. also in German,
protested his loyalty. AS he was
ierked upward on the tree PraeSer
pleaded he was loyal to his country
Mayor Siegel declared today he
had found no evidence of disloyalty
against Praeger. The victim had
AIKEN out his first papers and applied
for full citizenship.
Collinsvile was quiet today with
its miners back at work and appaT-
emily in high spirits following last
nights activity.
Praeger recently had quarreled
with the president of the miners
union here, it is reported. Authori-
ties believed today this was con
nected with the lyncrAng.
Several suspected pro-Germans dis
appeared from this vicinity immedi-
atelv following the lynching, Mary
Vile and Collinsville have been hot
beds of anti-German acts for months.
Maryville's mayor, a citizen of Ger
man birth, was forced TO kiss the
flag two months ago. No suspicion
had been directed at him until he
defended three men, alleged dlsloyal-
lists. threatened with violence. Ten
men. suspected of pro-Germanism,
have been forced to leave the two
cities because of threats against
them.
Mob was Unmasked.
COLLINSVILLE, Ill. April s.
Robert p. Praeger, IS, was hanged
nv a mob here early today, paying
with his life for alleged pro-German-
ism. A mob of $50 unmasked men
led by well known citizens invoked
the lynch law to punish Praeger for
reported socialistic and disloyal re-
marks against President Wilson at
nearby Maryville last night.
Praeger's body was swung from a
tree two miles west OF town along
the national highway after he was
led barefooted through the streets
waving an American flag. Once res
cued BY the police he was hidden IN