The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-04-05
Take Enemy Alien and Parade Him Through the
Streets Barefooted and Then Wrest Him
from Protection Of the Police
HAD, MADE ADDRESS
AS RED SOCIALIST
Attacks on President Stirred Ete
Crowd in Neighboring Town
to Mob Law =.

SOAAAAAo 'AAASS AAAsS ]1EA - OS.@S"AOSO~
ert P. Prayer, as years old, and
German born, after twice escap-
ing mob violence, was hanged to
a tree shortly after midnight BY
a mob Of $50 persons, who de-
clared he had made disloyal ut
terances. He was dragged from
the basement of the city hall
here, where he had been! in hid.
ing, through the main street of
the city to a point one mile west
and there his. body: was found
this morning dangling ,fron;'a g.
tree. = ,"'> ''
Talked on Socialism. ! 4,
Prayer was a coal miner, and
yesterday was in Maryville, SIllx
where he addressed miners IN
socialism. During his talk heM
said to have made remarks, de-
rogatory to President Wilson:
The angered miners Threatened;
to do him bodily harm, but,rhe
escaped to CoilinsVille, his home.
Some Of the miners, however,
followed him.. and a crowd soon
gathered. .$ts
Led Barefoot Through Streets
Prayer was taken from his
home and led barefooted through
the streets waving an American
flag. The police, fearing vio-
lence, took him from the crowd
and placed him in the city hall.
Later, the mob gathered in front
Of the hall and demanded the
man. The small force of police
and deputies were overpowered,
and Prayer was found hiding in
the basement Of the hall: The
crowd threatened to shoot if the
officers approached. ~, -
Pulled Into the Air -,
One mile west of the city, the
rope by which Prayer had been
led was thrown over the limb of
a tree. The man was asked If he
had anything to say. His answer
was to drop to his knees and with
arms crossed to pray in German.
He then was pulled into the air
and allowed to hang. r.
Was Enemy Alien ..a
The police, in a statement is
sued early today, declared that
they being only four in number.
were unable to cope with the
mob. They also said that Prayer
while in their custody had stated
he was a registered alien enemy
and that he was born in Ger
but that he had taken out
his first naturalization papers
and had hoped to become an
American citizen. %.
Collinsville is IL miles east Of
St. Louis and is in that section of
southwestern Illinois that of late
has been active against alleged
disloyalists. s -; &c, ,.'..,
PRAEGER.s FAREwEll
Before the rope was placed abou.
his neck Prayer wrote. the following
note in German Ill,
Dear Parents.
Karl Henry Prayer, Dresden, Ger
many must on this, the fourth day
of April, 1918, die. Please pray tor
me, my dear parents. This, Is my
last letter and testament. ~.
Your dear son and brother.
"ROBERT PAUL PRAGER.''
Proclaimed His Loyalty
In his pocket was found long
proclamation" in which he stated his
loyalty to the United States and to
union labor, and told of his difficulty
in entering the miners union. Pm
ger yesterday afternoon put up post
ers at the Maryville mine proclaiming
his loyalty to the government When
the miners left the workings they
were incensed by these proclamations
and began to hunt Prayer. s..-@, :
MORE LYNCs1,NGs FEARED
Washington, D. c., April x5.-Attor-
ney General Gregory took to the cab.
[sinet aHestings today . report OF the
lyncAing ,dbda Garman .At COhtnsyiAk,
CONTINUED OF RIye Two.l