Peoria Historian

Our Most Famous Citizen

2011-12-24T14:54:00.000-08:00

OUR MOST FAMOUS CITIZEN

NORMAN V. KELLY

It would be interesting to ask Peorians, whom, in their opinion, was Peoria’s most famous citizen? The answer would reflect the age of the person guessing, you think? Now I am talking 1845 to the present time. The guesses would vary from Fibber McGee and Molly, to Amos and Andy, to Richard Pryor to Dan Fogelberg, and quite a few others most folks have never even heard about. My choice, based on his incredible life would be Robert Green Ingersoll. For those few readers that know the name, all they could tell you was that he was a famous agnostic or even an atheist. So how could a guy like that be Peoria’s most famous citizen? Well…I’m glad you asked.

Born in Dresden, New York in 1833, he went on to be a teacher and finally a lawyer. He was known as the greatest orator of our time, and easily compared to Patrick Henry and Daniel Webster. He was referred to as the great infidel and the great agnostic, but to many he was much, much more. He came to Peoria, Illinois in 1857, remaining here until the middle of 1877. He was also the Attorney General of Illinois, 1867-1868. Ingersoll was a local hero here in Peoria during the Civil War. He gave himself the rank of Colonel, and organized a regiment of cavalry. The new colonel gathered his men out at Camp Lyons, where we now call Glen Oak Park. There is a monument there on Prospect Road to commemorate the setting. Colonel Ingersoll was captured during a battle with the Confederate Army but released, and came home to Peoria a hero.

The great man practiced law with his brother Eben, and became nationally famous when he nominated James B. Blaine for president at the Republican Convention in 1876. For two full decades after that he was known as “The premier orator of the nation.” He spoke on many subjects, but religion was the subject people flocked to hear. Here is what he said about religion. “Christianity was good when it taught the beauty of love and the kindness in man. It was bad when it carried a message of eternal grief and damnation.”
Known as a seeker of the truth, Ingersoll fought for free thinking and free speech. He confronted religious leaders pleading with them to seek the truth as well. They, on the other hand, looked upon him in many cases as the Devil incarnate. All anyone has to do is go to our local library and learn the truth of this most honorable, independent thinker, Peoria’s most famous citizen. Although he was a man of the world, he was proud of his connection with Peoria, Illinois.

PEORIA’S MONUMENT

On October 28, 1911 a large crowd gathered at Glen Oak Park to dedicate the Ingersoll Statue
and offer it as a gift to all Peorians. It was Eugene Baldwin, founder of The Peoria Star that labored long and hard to bring the Frederick Triebel monument to Peoria, Illinois. Baldwin opened the ceremonies by telling the crowd that they were there to “Honor the great apostle of liberty.” The statue stands to this day, even though vandals tipped it over in 1950 and during the war there was talk of melting it down for the war effort. It is still there, staring out over the beautiful park drive, not far from Woodruff High School.

Some quotes from the man himself. “The word of God is the creation we behold.” Billed as one of the world’s free thinkers, he said, “I have never denied the immortality of man. I have simply said, ‘I do not know.’ Hundreds of stories were written about Ingersoll, and during the ceremonies yearly in front of the statue, speakers reminded folks of the greatness of Robert Ingersoll. Baldwin said,
“He uttered nothing base. But his heart was all aglow for liberty, for freedom. For the emancipation of the mind and the redemption of the soul.”

Colonel Ingersoll came home to tell of his capture by the ‘Sesesh’, a word coined from secession during the Civil War. He then went on to practice law here in Peoria, which included some famous and important cases throughout the United States. Robert Ingersoll lived by his creed: “Happiness is the only good. The place to be happy is here. The time to be happy is now. The way to be happy is to make others so.”

Ingersoll remained in Peoria until 1877 when he moved to Washington D.C., then on to New York,
where he died in 1899. Mark Twain said of Robert Green Ingersoll, after hearing the orator speak, “It was the supreme combination of English words that was ever put together since the world began.” In 1932 the ashes of Ingersoll were reburied with honors in the Arlington National Cemetery.
One biographer summed up Ingersoll’s speaking technique as follows: “The language of Shakespeare,
the tenderness of Burns.” Robert Ingersoll lived and worked right here in Peoria, Illinois, bringing fame to himself, and honor to this city. Gone now for so many, many years, his words still ring true. Robert Ingersoll was a great American, a loyal patriot and he was proud to call Peoria his home.

1879

Here in Peoria, Illinois the news of the death of Ebon Clark Ingersoll, Robert’s brother and law partner reached the city here on June 3, 1879. Ebon was Peoria’s Congressional Representative after the Civil War, and a man admired locally in his own right. Robert Ingersoll delivered the funeral oration and as usual his words were considered among the finest ever spoken by any man in our history.
“Life is a narrow vale between the cold and barren peaks of two eternities.
We strive in vain to look upon the heights. We cry aloud and the only answer
is the echo of our wailing cry. From the voiceless lips of the unreplying dead
there comes no word; but in the night of death, hope sees a star, and listening
can hear the rustling of a wing.

He who sleeps here, when dying, mistaking the approach of death with the return
of health, whispered with his last breath: ‘I am better now.’

Let us believe, in spite of doubt and dogmas, of fears and tears, that these dear
words are true of all the countless dead.”

As a historian of Peoria history I am often amazed at how truly wonderful this city was, from its beginnings as a trading post, to its peak as a small, cosmopolitan city in the heart of this great nation.
I am proud of the people that have lived here all or most of their lives and went on to fame, fortune and influence throughout this nation and the world. They were all influenced by what they saw and learned here in the heart of Illinois. Robert Ingersoll was just one of them.

Editor’s Note: Norm is a lifelong Peorian and author of ten books on its history. norman.kelly@sbcglobal.net

How Peoria Grew

2011-12-24T14:46:00.001-08:00

Ever wonder why Peoria, Illinois grew head and shoulders above all the other towns and village that were located along the Illinois River? Way back in 1845 when Peoria became a city all those other towns from Joliet, Ottawa, Chillicothe, Lacon and all the rest wanted to grow. Why did Peoria leave them in the dust? Why us?

A one-word answer could simply be whiskey. That’s right, alcohol, beer, good old Peoria whiskey. After all, although the numbers varied we had as many as 8 breweries here at one time or the other and 17 distilleries. Most of the time the largest distillery of the time was right here in River City. I’ve heard some so-called historians say they located here because of the ‘water.’ Well, hell, the other towns had water…after all we are talking about the Illinois River. I can imagine that all of those towns would have given most anything just to have one brewery…one distillery, but we seemed to have them all. Pekin always seemed to have one…but they are small now and they never grew anywhere near the proportions that we did.

Peoria was just another trading village like so many others. We have a colorful history of French, English and Indian influence here but I fail to see how that helped us in our growth. What did the Peoria Indians ever do for us? Nothing. The Peoria tribe was booted out of here in 1720 by another tribe of Indians and in early 1800 they were driven from the state. They ended up in Kansas and Oklahoma and I fail to see where the history people in our town consider the Peoria Indian our heritage. What a joke. They make a big deal out of our so-called full-blooded Peoria Indian Chief…George Finley. What a joke. He was never in Peoria and he was NEVER a full- blooded Peoria Indian. The Peoria Indian is our namesake. How did they figure in Peoria’s heritage? That’s just the local historical folks and the chamber of commerce at work attracting visitors to bask in “Our great Indian heritage.”

BY THE NUMBERS

Number One: So the number one reason for our growth was the distillery.
One by one those distilleries were set up here for many reasons. The expansive river waterway, of course, helped us. Cheap and plentiful labor played a big role and the large number of farmers in Peoria County and surrounding counties helped us a great deal. The bountiful crops that supplied the distillery’s needs were available throughout our history. Peoria alone is 626 square miles and I think we are close to 28 miles wide. Just think of it all those farms, and all that crop production, and here in town a ready and eager market. Remember, all those farmers had about 72 years of selling everything they could grow to Peorians, our breweries and distilleries and as our population grew, the farmer flourished. They managed to survive because of the incredible success of Peoria, Illinois and a lot of back breaking hard work.

By 1850 Peoria had just over 6,000 people living within the city limits, which included only a little over one square mile..

So we have the distillery, the brewery, and the farm. Three ingredients for growth…believe me, it was a wonderful combination. Friendship played a major role in bringing in other distilleries to our area. Aggressive mayors and political representatives sold the idea to these companies and they bought it. In plain old Peoria jargon…we wanted them here…and they came.

Also…by 1917 when Woodrow Wilson enacted a temporary law…which ended up being permanent…THE WARTIME PROHIBBITION ACT…
There were already 20 states in the Union that were already DRY. Now where would you want to set up a distillery that was just kicked out of say…Iowa for example. You bet you would move it to a wet state and a city that welcomed you with open arms…namely Peoria, Illinois. So there were many reasons they came here…don’t buy into that phony ‘water’ theory the historians try to sell.

So here are the reasons again why Peoria grew.

l. Distilleries . 2. Breweries. 3. Farms. 4. Population growth, which meant job seekers. Job seekers in abundance meant that the industries would gather where the workers were plentiful and eager to gain employment. The more workers the cheaper the product is to produce. 5. Horses and Livery Stables. 6. Great waterway for Steamboats, paddleboats and other river craft. 7. We had railroads here in Peoria, Illinois. At one time we had 14 RR companies in and out of Peoria. 8. Peoria had a huge stockyard that flourished here in Peoria from 1842 until 1967. Early on we led the nation in livestock processing. It was said to have been a 26 million dollar annual business early on in our history and all it did was grow.

HORSES. We had 15 huge livery stables here in Peoria at one time and horses were KINGS. Peoria had a national and international history for breeding, selling and racing of horses. Peoria was loaded with thoroughbreds, trotters and pacers and lots of riding and workhorses. This was a massive business in Peoria, Illinois. All of that activity created jobs, which certainly helped the farmer and the city dweller as well. The farm business spawned tractor and farming equipment and eventually led to HOLT and then Caterpillar and Letourneau. Avery in Averyville flourished and soon Peoria annexed that town of 5,000 people. It was a battle that did not end until 1928 when the Illinois Supreme court ruled in Peoria’s favor. In Bartonville there was Keystone Steel and Wire Company but Peoria was unable to obtain that area.

All those jobs brought people into our city. During the Prohibition era according to the 1930 census, Peoria grew by 28,848 people and I am talking about the city only. Prohibition and the Wartime Conservation Act hit us hard here in Peoria since all the breweries and distilleries shut down. The next devastating blow was the closing of all of our taverns on January 16, 1920.

Peoria was a city on the grow and it can all be traced to Beer…Booze…Farms…Horses…Railroads…Stockyards, and early on, the
incredible steamboat. That’s how Peoria grew, and I can tell you there is a remarkable history connected within those years.

All that created a downtown that grew by leaps and bounds…hotels, restaurants, theaters and other small businesses popped up like mushrooms in early May. Peoria was the place to be. Located between Saint Louis and Chicago, we were the place to meet. Our Theater history was colorful and extremely active. There truly was no place like Peoria, Illinois.

We always had gambling and other vices, but it really got its hold during Prohibition. A gambling town, bawdy and wild, Peoria was the place that people wanted to visit. We were called a Podunk town, a country bumpkin town and maligned, but through it all we thrived.

We had a gambling, bawdy and even a gangster reputation…most of it more rumor than reality, but we loved to perpetuate it. Peoria, Illinois…meant DOWNTOWN. Once the do-gooders took over the city it simply began to disappear until there was a time when people simply stopped going downtown. Most of the restaurants were gone, along with the businesses…no doctors, nothing. Television pretty much single-handedly shut down our movie theaters and when Sheridan Village opened in March of 1954, that was the beginning of the end. Downtown Peoria, Illinois, is pretty much just a memory to most of us that are in our middle seventies. That’s okay with us, it’s like we have our own Brigadoon. All we have to do is talk about the way it used to be…and the city seems to reappear. It’s all a dream however, and as for me, Peoria will never be the same. Perhaps that is best…after all.

Final Summation On Prohibition

2011-09-12T08:01:00.001-07:00

FINAL SUMMATION ON PROHIBITION
NORMAN V. KELLY

I HAVE WRITTEN THOUSANDS OF WORDS ON Prohibition and lectured at least a dozen times about the beginning, the effects and the end of Prohibit1on. I often wonder what in the hell I wasted all that time and effort writing about something that occurred so many years ago. I think the final answer was simple enough. It was an incredible era…so interesting…so devastating…sexy, exciting. It was a time that affected every American. It destroyed lives, slaughtered people, created an entire new element of gangsters, and damn near destroyed us as a nation. It pitted Americans against each other, politically it was as mean as it gets. The so-called DRYS vs the so-called WETS. It brought religion into the alcohol business and believe me it brought crime and brutality to this God-fearing nation, I can tell you that. It also made millions for a large segment of the United States, Canada and countless other industries, from boat builders to gun makers.
Prohibition destroyed small businesses, it created massive unemployment, yet some people made millions and divided a nation almost beyond repair. I have told you the history of that thirteen-year era, and now I want to make sure that you know this fact. You may think it was organized by church going old women, including pastors and preachers and other do-gooders. But the truth is the finger can really be pointed at one man. That’s right just one man. I told you about him before but now I will just summarize the movement and then I will not write another word about Prohibition.
WAYNE BIRDWELL WHEELER.
As I mentioned before folks here in Peoria called him ‘Birdbrain.’ But I can tell you the historical truth was that he was at one time the most powerful man in the United States. Hell, he was not a politician, or a banker, or a gangster, in fact he had the appearance of being the only librarian in a dusty old library somewhere in the archives, never seen nor heard from. He was all of 5’6” tall, a mousy little jerk, and of course he wore wire-rimmed glasses. He was slightly balding and a scrawny mustache above his thin, upper lip. Hell, had he not been a religious man, and completely in favor of Prohibition, we would have never heard of him. How could this little in descript man wield so much incredible power? How indeed.
I told you how it all began way back in the late 1800’s with the small religious movements that finally caused the State of Maine to go completely dry by 1855. The incredible fact was that by 1920 America had 22 states already dry. How in the hell did that happen? Where was the opposition? Truth is America was awfully damn religious in the old days and most certainly a lot of our founders had a distinct religious leaning as well. Once old demon rum was identified as the devil and the root of all evil…why hell…it was easy. So somebody did a hell of a lot of work long before we can begin to point the finger at Wheeler. But...until he took over it was really a hit and miss proposition. He was the king of the Eighteenth Amendment…the sultan of intimidation, the prince of manipulation, the greatest puppeteer of men this nation has ever known.
The little man died in 1927 at the age of 57, so doing the math that would give his birth date 1869…right? He was born in Youngstown, Ohio but his real birth…or rebirth…was in 1893…you guessed it in a church. How many of our so-called leaders began this way? One birth was not enough…hell no…they had to be reborn. Old Birdbrain sat in the Congregational Church in Oberlin, Ohio listening to some idiot…Reverend Howard Hyde Russell, a former lawyer…what else…talk about a new movement called the Anti-Saloon League…the ASL. Our little Mouseketeer loved what he heard. I can tell you after this fools Epiphany the freedom in American…it’s right to free choice would change and for thirteen years this man set out to save us from demon rum…and cause the most chaotic…violent…dangerous thirteen years in the history of this great country. And…he did it because God and a bunch of total fools and idiots told him to do it. The folks that met violent deaths because of this little fool are beyond counting. This may be a bit of overstatement…over kill perhaps…but his little jerk held the very fate of the Republic in his scrawny little hands. He could make or break any politician in this country and I mean all the way up to the president and he did it with impunity…zest and zeal and he did it over and over for a minimum of thirty years. Remember he died in 1927 and I’ll be damned…after this little jerk died…Prohibition still continued until 1933. Incredible! That is how well built his platform was and how encased in the idiot politician his guidelines were . Now in case you have not noticed…that my friend is power.
Wheeler had his redeeming qualities…he was a hard worker and put himself through Oberlin College by doing every kind of job he could get his hands on…from waiting on tables…janitorial work…and sales. No doubt he was a salesman…he convinced the reverend that the ASL needed him…that the ASL was what Wheeler was born to do. He was the first actual paid employee of the ASL and believe me when I tell you that Wheeler turned that idiotic group into the most effective…powerful…activated political machine this nation has ever known…bar none.
Today’s politicians are girl scouts compared this man who not only coined the phrase ‘Pressure Group’ he taught it to every person that was connected with him and that was just the beginning of what he forged for one reason and one reason only. That reason was the domination of politics in the cities…the counties…the villages and as low as the dog catcher to the president…he wanted every one of them thinking the way he did…and believe me he did it. The root of ALL evil is alcohol…stop the sale and consumption of alcohol in the United States and peace…tranquility and a bit of Heaven on Earth will prevail. Sounds wonderful huh…but of course it was all just plain naive bullshit. History proved that.
1915
In 1915, after exhaustive planning and unbelievable organization the Anti-Saloon League convened in Atlantic City and for the first time folks got an idea what in hell the ASL really amounted to. Wheeler managed every facet of this organization and overwhelmed every obstacle to get his movement off the ground. Huge rallies, massive numbers of people and all designated as a Warriors For Christ, a disciple of God, out to get rid of ‘old Demon Rum’, and destroy every tavern, saloon, brewery, distillery and still in America. And…by GOD they just about managed to do all that. What looked like a mass of people…or a frenzied mob was a well controlled group of narrow minded fools. Each small group had a leader and that leader had a leader and so on up to the mighty man himself…Wheeler. They raised pennies and dollars and marched and chanted and scared the hell out of tavern owners and distillers alike. All that money…well most of it…found its way into Wheeler’s headquarters where he micro managed the entire movement. Christ…had he become president of the United States he would have ‘Ruled the World.’
At first it was the preachers, the reverends, the church elders and the ‘flock’ that demonstrated with marches and rallies...but that was all for show. The man…THE man behind it was brilliant, clever, manipulating, bribing, intimidating old squirrelly Birdbrain Wheeler. Wayne Wheeler was a general that would make Ike look like a scout master in a cub scout outfit.

IT’S NOT ALL SMOOTH

Of course a few idiots…after all these people were overly religious…overzealous religious nuts who had only one thought in mind and that was to do ‘God’s Work.’ Once they were back home on their own they made a lot of mistakes. They began to upset Tavern owners, playing God, people like Looney women preachers that tried to destroy local taverns. One example was Frances Willard and her silly Women’s Christian Temperance Movement…or WTCU…falling all over each other to accomplish God’s Devine message. They got in a lot of trouble and they got arrested as well. BUT...they had thousands of members and it was Wheeler who understood the power of these women. All he had to do was rope in their misbegotten ways. He did just exactly that and of course his organization grew in the process. Now the movement grew beyond any one’s imagination. Oh…and what did the WETS do during all this? Why here in Peoria they formed the Red Nose gang, laughed at the marchers, tossed tomatoes at them and retired to the taverns to get drunk. That was their big defense against these idiot ‘Drys.’

Meantime…local groups were being formed under the leadership of Wheeler’s long arms and his very wealthy and strong Anti-Saloon League. While the drunks in Peoria were laughing, local politicians were being bought and paid for. Soon, few politicians had a chance to win an election without the help of the Anti-Saloon League. As I said no office was over looked…Laugh and drink…while the group grew in power...influence…money and soon The die was cast. Hell the fight to STOP prohibition never even began before it was too late. All of this can be traced to, blamed on, or credited to Wheeler and his band of followers. AMEN BROTHER.

AN AVENGING ANGEL

Hell it was no secret to the folks that paid attention that the Anti-Saloon League was out to distribute all the political retribution it could accomplish all over America. And…you guessed it Wayne B. Wheeler was their avenging angel. If there was a hint of anti booze in any potential legislation across the land…the angel was there. He saw to it that the prosecutors, the local mayor, the local politicians got on board quickly. He taught them to attack the opposition, to form their own bill making groups and he supplied all the money a politician needed to get on board their platform. It worked everywhere and almost every single time. It worked liked the well-oiled machine it was. You oppose the ASL and your political ass was grass. Hell, you didn’t have a chance. Now we are talking every state in the Union, it was just a matter of time until the ASL had all the political clout to ‘OWN’ America. And…then came WW! I n April of 1917. The ACL was positive that God was up there helping them because WW1 was all they needed. And, they used it to the hilt. After all a lot of German men living in the U.S.A owned breweries and distilleries. The fight against the HUN was going on in Europe but the ACL waged a war of their own against the Germans here in America. “All the money these Germans are making here in America and sending it over to Germany.” Get the idea? Shut down all those damn German booze and Beer makers…it is anti-American to support them. Well…with a series of phony War Conservation Acts…it worked. I already told you that story…but believe me Wheeler and company were behind it all and it worked like a charm.

Keep in mind, this man never ran for anything…he never ran against anything…he was simply in charge of a massive block of votes that controlled whatever the hell issue they came down on. Always…always their main goal was a Nation- wide ban of the sale and manufacturing of booze of any kind. The goals…well God’s Mandate to them, was to close down every tavern and saloon in America. He took on individuals, occasionally losing, but constantly going forward. He often said this after a major issue was settled. You know how he settled it…right…he defeated you and whatever agenda you had. This quote was common during the press issues he was credited with giving. “Never again will any political party ignore the protests of the church and the moral forces of the state.” Maybe that does not bother you but to me that is a very dangerous statement. Of course what that statement meant was simple enough…DON’T MESS with Wayne B. Wheeler…it was that simple.

Reminds me so much of what is going on today. Where one man, woman or party absolutely has only one agenda…let’s say National Health care…they do not give a damn what anyone says against them…and as a result they stay in control. All of prohibition was that ONE agenda. They did not give a damn about the murder, mayhem, corruption and loss of jobs. All they wanted was to do God’s work…take the credit for it, gain more members, and stop anyone from getting in the way. Oh, and they did not give a damn about what party you belonged to. In searching for a candidate they asked only one question. WHAT IS YOUR STAND ON PROHIBITION? You could have been known as a Jack The Ripper and these dumb bastards would have gotten you elected. One agenda…are you for Prohibition? Fine…pack your bags you are on your way to Washington, DC.

FEEBLE DEFENSE

I’LL GIVE YOU ONE EXAMPLE AND THAT IS ALL. Hell there were hundreds of these kinds of things, in all or most of the states and of course in Washington D.C. Look it up yourself. Way back before Prohibition when Taft was president….that would be say in 1913, the large president tried to stop an Act called the Webb-Kenyon Act that outlawed the importation of booze from a WET state to a Dry State. Our hero Vetoed that bill…why faster than you can get back from lunch the House of Representatives overrode that Veto…and I mean overwhelmingly. See what I mean? Wheeler and his mob were everywhere. They stacked the deck and they let Taft know that he was virtually helpless. Sad huh? Next came the Liquor Taxes the Feds depended upon, well hell look up the 16th. Amendment. The Wheeler bunch knew that if the government could not rely on the booze tax they would lose interest in it quickly. I am telling you Wheeler and his organization were nothing short of brilliant…that I can tell you with assurance.

THE NEXT AND FINAL STEP

Well hell, what do you think it was? First Wheeler left OHIO and moved to Washington DC. Now he was close to his puppets and he meant to pull their strings even more closely. The goal was the 18th. Amendment and he had all of his ducks ( or jerks) in a row and the push was on. Just think…dear Lord, his final goal was just down the pike and he was certain it was just a matter of time…more manipulation…more bribes…more scare tactics and just a little more work. After that the glory of living in Heaven right here on Earth was within the grasp of all these bleeding heart do-gooders. Christ life was good.

Here is a quote from a New York Newspaper. Maybe it was the Times or probably the Evening World REFERRING TO Wayne B. Wheeler. “THE LEGISLATIVE BULLY BEFORE WHOM THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES SITS UPS AND BEGS.” Now that should be enough don’t you think? You can talk about Prohibition…and I know our entire history of that era here in Peoria, Illinois…but you won’t see anything about Wheeler. What in the hell would my dad or my relatives know about Wheeler? All they knew was they lost a lot of jobs and getting a drink was a little more expensive and harder to come by. As I said, our Soft Drink Parlors solved that problem, thanks to Woodruff and his successors. Hell, that’s all Prohibition meant to us. Believe me finding criticism of Wheeler or even his name in our newspapers would take a hard core researcher like me to find.
THE WOMEN VOTE
Hell, look at the women...the suffrage women, the religious fools that spent 25 years carrying the banner of Prohibition. Truth is…and this is just my opinion what they were really seeking was the right to vote. To be heard…hell do you blame them? Once they got into the religious movement about booze, and Wheeler and his group took them under their wing…why hell…they realized that they had two chances. One was the promise that Wheeler would help them get that right to vote and the ‘icing on the cake’ would be the glorious, wonderful world of Prohibition. How could they lose? The only opposition was a bunch of WETS half bombed most of the time. See how all that fit in? Well what do you think happened after the 18th. Amendment? Oh yeah, the 19th. But that was nothing compared to the golden goose…The 20th. amendment. The gals got their present for helping Wheeler and he got what he wanted. Praise from the LORD and of course National Prohibition. What happened during the next thirteen years did not mean a damn thing to those Idiots. As for me thank God the bastard died as early as he did…1927. Had he lived another decade only God would know how much more damage he could have done…same way with today and National Health. It was jammed down America’s throat now look at the consequences. But…hey that’s another story. Norman Kelly norman.kelly@sbcglobal.net

BEER: Hail To The King!

2011-09-12T07:59:00.000-07:00

BEER: Hail To The King!

NORM KELLY

April 7, 1933 marked a glorious day in the history of Peoria, Illinois, and it came under the heading of The Cullen-Harrison Act. That all sounds kind of boring doesn’t it? But if you were here in the old river city April 6, 1933, you would have had yourself a blast. At the striking of midnight, April 7, 1933 a mighty roar went up in Downtown Peoria, Illinois. A smiling, excited crowd, mainly men and certainly young boys were awaiting the signal that BEER was legal to drink. The sad truth was that there was very little beer to drink, but the crowd gathered anyway, more of a celebration than a drinking spree.

It was not until about 6:30 that morning of April 7, 1933 that the beer trucks began to rumble into the city and make their way to the taverns and retail liquor stores around town. During the night the boys got pretty loaded, after all, during Prohibition booze was easy to come by in Peoria, Illinois.

The crowds broke up to surround the trucks and the drivers found themselves in the middle of a frenzied, yet friendly mob. A case of beer sold from $2.50 a case to $2.75 plus a dollar deposit. The warm beer was guzzled right there the moment eager hands grabbed the bottles. Horse drawn wagons, busses, trucks and airplanes were used to bring the wet gold into town. Out at the airport at 9:17 that April morning a Pan American plane landed and was immediately surrounded by the cheering men. Case after case was unloaded and the plane also carried a huge bottle of beer for the Governor of Illinois.

Out of this insane picture of beer drinking, gulping and pure frenzy came the one thing Peoria wanted and needed more than anything else…and that was jobs. The Great Depression still had its grip on Peoria and the very next day, bartenders, cooks, truckers, railroad men, and dozens of other businesses took on a brand new bright look of joy. The bright glow of employment…jobs…wonderful jobs. The lights in the saloons, taverns and the old soft drink parlors glowed through the night getting ready for a new life. The brewers lit their fires and the lines formed for employment in good old Peoria brewery jobs, finally the day had come.

The truth was that the Cullen-Harrison Act was a far cry from the end of Prohibition, but it was a nice deep chink in the Volstead Act, and the people of Peoria, Illinois knew that Prohibition was coming to an end. The Cullen-Harrison law amended the Volstead Act to allow 3.2% beer and that was a glorious moment indeed. Remember, The Vostead Act defined alcohol at .5% per volume, or ‘colored water’ as Peorians called it. The warm beer they were drinking was only 3.2 beer but those that drank it were as intoxicated with sheer joy as they would have been ‘with the real stuff.’ Finally, FDR signed into law the 21st. Amendment ending Prohibition in the United States on December 5, 1933. Now that allowed good old Peoria Whiskey to be distilled, and the excitement was infectious, I can tell you that. Quickly Hiram Walkers announced that they would build the largest distillery in America right here in Peoria, Illinois.

The 21st. Amendment gave the States the right to decide their own fate as far as the sale and manufacturing of alcohol was concerned. Of course that is why within many states we have wet and dry counties. Peoria took a mighty leap forward in recovering from the effects of Prohibition and the Great Depression during 1933. And…as was our history since 1834 we did it on the shoulders of Whiskey and Beer. So, this week, pause a moment and drink a toast to Cullen, Harrison and Franklin D. Roosevelt. Upon signing the bill the great man was heard to say, “ I think this would be a good time for a beer.” Amen, Mr. President.

Editor’s note: Norm Kelly is a historian, author and beer drinker. norman.kelly@sbcglobal.net

Early Peoria Killers

2011-09-12T07:58:00.000-07:00

EARLY PEORIA KILLERS: Williams & Brown

NORMAN V. KELLY

Let me take you back to Peoria, Illinois in 1850 when the city was all of five years old. We began at the edge of the Illinois River, just a small trading village, named after the local Peoria Indian. We grew… my how we grew and Peoria attracted every kind of folk imaginable. Not all of them worth having, I might add. Among those undesirables were George Williams, Thomas Brown and Tom ‘Tit’ Jordan. On that cool November first, 1850, they were down at the stockyards hunting for someone to rob. Once they zeroed in on their victim they stalked him most of the day.

The victim was Harvey Hewett and he was in town selling off a large herd of cattle. After a successful day of moneymaking he headed out of town alone in his horse drawn buggy. Near what we call Adams and Spring Streets he was waylaid, beaten senseless, robbed and left for dead. He died nine days later, but during his lucid moments he gave a very good description of the three men that had attacked him. A huge posse was formed and off they went heading south to apprehend the three killers, known personally by local tavern denizens. In those days thieves and killers were usually run down and hanged at the nearest tree. Folks in Peoria expected the same fate to meet these three killers as well.

THEY’RE ALIVE!

News that the posse had captured rather than hanged the culprits was indeed surprising news. However, Thomas Jordan had escaped to New Orleans and the Peoria Sheriff had personally contacted the Governor of Louisiana for help in getting Jordan back to Peoria. Here in Peoria, the newly appointed Judge William Kellogg held the murder trial of Williams and Brown on November 20, 1850.

The prosecutor got into evidence the signed statements of the victim, Harvey Hewitt and it took but a very short time to find the killers guilty. They of course blamed the missing killer, Thomas Jordan for the actual killing.
On November 27, 1850 Judge Kellogg sentenced the two men to die by hanging, setting the date of December 29, 1850 as the execution date.

A DANGEROUS MOB

A rumor started in town that the hanging would be postponed sparked a mob to storm the small courthouse demanding that the two killers be hanged or turned over to the enraged mob for justice. The out gunned Sheriff was forced to step out of the way. Brown and Williams armed only with a brick and a knife fought off the rioters, injuring two and actually killing one man. Once they had the killers out of the jail they were helpless. Surprisingly the two beaten men were returned to the jail. Local reporters at the time stated that the leaders had forgotten to obtain a rope prior to the attack. So, Williams and Brown survived the mob, but still faced the hangman. As it turned out the postponement had been warranted because the judge was waiting for Jordan to return to Peoria. The court wanted the two condemned men to testify against Jordan but that never happened. Jordan was later tried but escaped the death sentence. Judge Kellogg set the hangings for January.

AN OUTDOOR HANGING

January 15, 1851 dawned, blustery and frigid as folks began to gather at the
gallows constructed out in the prairie, which we now know as Sanford and Second Streets. Our population at the time was just over six thousand but by the time the hanging got underway over fifteen thousand folks were in attendance. The crowd roared as the wagon containing the two condemned men pulled up inside the fenced in area. Deputies cleared the way as they brought the terrified men out of the wagon and up the gallows steps. The crowd surged forward once again and soon the fence was flat on the ground.

Once up on the platform the two men turned to face the sea of angry faces. The noise began to lessen and soon the crowd stood silently looking up at the condemned men. The hangman guided black hoods over each killer’s head as the padre mumbled prayers. As the executioner led the two men to the trapdoor, he deftly slipped ropes about their necks. The snap of the opening trapdoor rang out in the cold morning air hurtling the men to their deaths. A mighty roar went up and then silenced as the bodies began to twist slowly at the end of the ropes. The two attending physicians pronounced Brown, then Williams dead. The bodies were cut down and put into pine coffins. Two horse drawn hearses carried them off to a pauper’s grave. For a moment or so the folks stood silently, then one by one they turned and walked away. The event marked the first public hanging in the City of Peoria’s history.
Six other hangings would take place in or on the courthouse property here in town. Two other convicted killers would die in the electric chair in Joliet.

Editor’s Note: Norm is a local historian and author. His book, UNTIL YOU ARE DEAD, detailing all of Peoria’s executions is available in the Peoria Public Library. (norman.kelly@sbcglobal.net)

Diamond Lil

2011-09-12T07:57:00.000-07:00

MISS DIAMOND LIL’

NORMAN V. KELLY

Her real name was Parole McNeal Guyette, but here in Peoria she went by the name of Diamond Lil.’ Early on, Diamond Lil’ was a prostitute, coming here from Toledo, Ohio and Detroit Michigan. She had two houses of ill repute here that were described as ‘Black and Tan Resorts,’ meaning some of her girls were Mulattos. She became the madam before long and always bragged about having ‘Customers in high places.’

At age fifty, she was a rather stunning lady with iron-gray hair, and a look of sophistication about her. She got her sobriquet because of her smile that showed the bright stones that a local dentist had embedded in her front teeth.
Miss Diamond’s hot spots were over on Eaton and Second Streets, where she ruled with an iron hand during a time when Peoria was a lusty, wide-open town. Lil’ and the other ladies of her ilk were all part of our reputation for more than four decades.

IT ALL ENDS FOR LIL’

Lil’ was fast asleep that early morning of September 29, 1930 when all hell broke loose downstairs where Joni Yelm was cleaning behind the bar. Joe Markley kicked in the door, threatened Joni, and demanded to see the owner. Yelm told Joe that Lil’ was not there, but the man pushed him aside and headed for the stairs that led to Lil’s room. Suddenly, Miss Diamond appeared at the top of the steps. Even in her nightgown she was an imposing figure, wearing a gun belt and holster on her rather stout hips, pointing a six-gun down at Joe Markley.

Diamond Lil’ screamed, “Hey…you can’t do that,” waving the big gun around menacingly. Joe ignored her threat and raced up the steps. Soon the two were engaged in a wrestling match for the handgun. Down they came, rolling head over heels, crashing to the floor. While the battle was going on, Joni grabbed the shotgun hidden behind the bar. He hurried over to protect his boss, firing one barrel at the enraged man. The blast from the twelve-gauge shell ripped into the flesh of Joe’s left forearm.

Lil’ broke loose, grabbed the handgun that had fallen to the floor, and ran up the steps with Joe hot on her heels. At the top she whirled and fired. The first slug tore into Joe’s thumb, but she kept firing, hitting Joe in the upper chest twice, stopping him cold in his tracks. He fell backwards, rolling down the steps onto the floor, where he died moments later.

MAJOR HEADLINES

Now this was juicy stuff to read while sipping your morning coffee, and it was the talk of the town for weeks. The Holidays came and went and the newspapers told Peorians that the trial of Diamond Lil’ and Joni Yelm would begin here in Peoria, Illinois on January 19. 1931. It was the hottest ticket in town and on that cold January morning the crowds gathered, surrounding the old courthouse. Lil’ came to trial dressed to the nines, confident and ready to defend herself. To most Peorians it was a clear case of home invasion and self-defense. Joni and Lil’ would be tried together, and after three days the jury was picked. Each morning of the trial brought hundreds of people to the courthouse, pushing and shoving in hopes of getting a seat. Of course, many of them were turned away, walking the halls, waiting for news.

As the trial began, the final count for the jury was five women and seven men. Now if those folks were do-gooders, and self-righteous folks, poor Lil’ and Joni would not stand a chance. However, if the jury followed the law as outlined by the judge, the defendants could soon be free. Which would it be?

THE TRIAL

The trial was suspenseful and most certainly exciting. Hundreds of women faced the cold and lined the sidewalk each morning, watching Lil’ walk by. She often nodded to them as she strolled by with her friend Joni and the defense lawyers. Hundreds of pictures were taken whenever she stopped momentarily, basking in her new momentary fame.

The trial moved along, with both Joni and Lil’ being called to testify in a dramatic fight for their lives. It looked good for both of them even though the state’s attorney depicted them as cold-blooded killers. He pulled no punches when it came to telling the jury what these two defendants did for a living. Finally the closing arguments ended and the case was given over to the jury.
LIL’ TO APPEAL VERDICT

That was the verdict the newspapers reported, indicating that both Joni and Lil’ were GUILTY! Both defendants were sentenced to one to life in the state pen at Joliet, Illinois. Historically that meant from six to twelve years. While out on bail during the appeal, Miss Diamond told reporters that she did not get a fair trial. The Illinois Supreme Court upheld the conviction and soon the two defendants were off to Joliet. Word came to Peorians through our newspapers that Miss Diamond was going to write a ‘Tell All Book.’ That bit of news upset a few prominent men in Peoria and the excitement was still in the air. Diamond Lil’ had often bragged about her ‘Prominent Clientele,’ and the folks in Peoria were eagerly looking forward to getting a copy of her book. Well, sorry to say that that book was never printed. Suddenly there was nothing but silence coming from Lil’s cell. She refused further interviews and told the press, “All that is a closed book.” A week after she refused to talk to reporters there was a piece in the local papers. Lil’ told a reporter that the Chicago State’s Attorney wanted to indict her on some political scam in connection with illegal investments that he accused her of being involved in. Perhaps Lil’ thought it best to clam up, serve her time, and disappear. Anyway, that is exactly what she did.
Editor’s Note: Norm is a Peoria Historian and author of ten books. norman.kelly@sbcglobal.net
Next Month: Norm will tell us another tale of Peoria’s bawdy past.

Chief Coy

2011-09-12T07:55:00.000-07:00

® PEORIA’S MAN OF STEEL

NORMAN V. KELLY

There was a man in our town that walked the streets of Downtown Peoria for over three decades. During the almost twenty-years that I worked downtown I saw him many, many times. He knew everyone in town and had a story to tell to each and every person that stopped long enough to listen. I have seen children point at him, and ladies turn away in fear. I am here to tell you that they had nothing to fear from Robert Merle Coy, better known as ‘Chief’ Coy. Robert was born in Holden, Missouri on February 22, 1902 and arrived here in Peoria in 1913. He went to school at Tyng, dropping out during the eighth-grade. It was at Tyng when a principal there started calling him ‘Chief,’ because Coy had told them a story about him being a chief of a gang of bad men. It stayed with him until his death on October 2, 1980. He ended his days living in the Pavilion Oaks Nursing Home, dying at the age of seventy-eight.

I mentioned the fear some woman had of the ‘Chief’ because of his face. The right side of his face was distorted from an early injury, which paralyzed that area, causing a very noticeable drooping of the right eye.
His eye remained blood-shot and quite frankly scary upon first looking at him. When engaged in conversation the droop caused him to lisp, and often drool, but to those lucky folks that took the time to know him, he was an admirable, gentle man. He accumulated more records than any person ever to have lived here in Peoria, Illinois. Interested folks soon learned that Robert was hit in the face when he was still in his crib by his own father which caused severe and permanent nerve damage. That injury became more apparent as he grew into manhood, and believe me he was quite a man.

RECORDS AND MORE RECORDS

Rather than use his face as an excuse he said this about his features.
“My face did help me to determine to learn to do many things that no one else could do.”
He held records in Ripley’s “Believe It Or Not,” and John Hix’s “Strange As It May Seem.” Here is a sample of his prowess: Able to recite in four minutes all fifty states and their capitols, the Presidents of the United States, the books of the Bible in order, the first fifty Popes of the Catholic Church, and the names of 15 ancient historical events in Greek and Hebrew. In the John Hix’s story he depicted the ‘Chief’ as “The Strongest Man In The World.”

His strength and endurance were legendary. Way back in the 30’s he would entertain crowds by turning over automobiles and tearing telephone books in half. He could bend steel bolts in half and tear tin tobacco cans in half with his bare hands. He rejoiced in putting a rope around his neck, attaching the rope to a car he would pull it around the block.

One period of his life he went to every state in the union obtaining autographs of every governor in every state. He walked hundreds and hundreds of miles and ran dozens of marathons long before people really knew what they were. His jobs here in Peoria, before he was seen putting ads in windows around town were at the Herschel Company and during the war he was a mailman. Always active, always busy, ‘Chief’ Coy was a man usually on a quest of one kind or the other.

His boxing and wrestling records are far too numerous to mention, but I can tell you that he retired as a champion in every one of those sports. He also entertained people in town as a billiard marathoner playing for just over 120 hours until friends forced him to stop. He held records in all kinds of running events, running many of those events barefooted.

The ‘Chief’ gained National attention and there were many articles written about him. Sports editors called him a “Rugged, virile man, gentle, religious and inspiring.” He held records in whatever event he decided to compete in and he did it with a flare of honesty and modesty.

Here is a voice out of the past. Everett M. Dirksen, when he was a Member of Congress said, “Chief Coy is a remarkable all-around athlete, one whose performances read like the labors of Hercules.”

I feel certain that a lot of those people that saw and even talked to Coy would be surprised to learn that he was an author. After all, his formal education ended in the eighth-grade. He wrote a 50,000-word story on the ‘Sacrifice of the Mass,’ and began work on ‘The History of the World by a Catholic.’ The ‘Chief’ was a devout Catholic and knew the entire Mass by heart, becoming a Tertiary of the Third Order of Saint Francis. Robert Coy never married and lived alone, living a considerable time in the Jefferson Hotel in Downtown Peoria, Illinois.

Robert Coy was hoping to get to be a contestant on the TV show, “The $64,000 Question,” but that never happened. Local folks were convinced it was the ‘Chief’s’ looks that defeated him there. He certainly did not lose anywhere else in his rich, eventful life. Peoria was a much more interesting place thanks to Robert ‘Chief’ Coy, one of Peoria’s truly remarkable characters.

Editor’s Note: This one is for Robert Rafferty. norman.kelly@sbcglobal.net

1866 - The Shaft

2011-09-12T07:53:00.000-07:00

1866: THE SHAFT

NORMAN V. KELLY

I remember seeing The Shaft, that’s what we grew up calling it, standing there within the square on the Jefferson Street side of the courthouse. It was 1950, the Korean War was on and I was heading for the United States Air Force. On my last day in Peoria, I stood looking up at that old weather-beaten, limestone shaft thinking a bit about the Civil War. I remember wondering why it was still located there, since we had a large, famous monument on the other side of the courthouse dedicated to the same war. I never saw The Shaft again but I never forgot it. Funny thing, I do remember that way back in 1950 there were 43 Civil War Veterans still alive.

It was October 11, 1866 when the world seemed to be lending its attention to Peoria, Illinois. Local newspapers tell us that at least 30,000 citizens jammed into the small confines of the courthouse square and lined the streets of Peoria, Illinois waiting for the start of the huge parade. Folks from all over began arriving early on that beautiful, exciting October morning. Among them were thousands of Civil War Veterans, some of them clearly scarred by the ferocious war between the States. It was a massive, gala event that created a ton of excitement here in the heart of Illinois.

Suddenly the drums boomed, the band broke into a patriotic piece as the assembled parade prepared to step off on its way to the courthouse and the dedication of the Civil War Memorial Monument. At precisely 10:00 A.M. four marshals, riding abreast led off the parade, followed by two companies of soldiers and a carriage with ‘Old Abe’ the famous war eagle sitting high on his perch. The popular Spencer’s Band played a rousing march followed by nine companies of infantry in full uniform. Just behind them was a carriage carrying the dignitaries and speakers for the day. Gillig’s Band was next in line and behind this colorful group were marching firemen and hundreds of walking citizens. Once the parade passed by the spectators joined in for the lively march to the courthouse square.

General John A. ‘Black Jack’ Logan was cheered along as he and General Benjamin F. Butler waved and smiled at the massive throng. It was Black Jack’s famous war eagle, ‘Old Abe,’ that the folks wanted to see and a sea of cheers greeted the veteran war bird as he came into view. The wily old bird screeched and flapped his wings at the cheering mob. Among the dignitaries was Peoria’s famous orator, Colonel Robert G. Ingersoll, slated to give the dedication speech. Once the parade concluded there was a mad dash to surround the now draped monument. The Shaft had been covered with drapes and colorful wreaths. Atop the shaft, covering the winged eagle was a cross of beautiful flowers. Surrounding the base of the shaft were gigantic wreaths of evergreens and numerous, gorgeous flowers.

A speaker’s stand had been set up and in front of the monument tightly packed spectators could not have possibly moved, even if they had chosen to do so. Every square inch was packed with a human body, and young men dangled from every tree branch available.

Robert Ingersoll gave the dedication address in his usual glorious manner followed by short speeches from the generals. The excited folks roared their approval, then silenced and bowed their heads as the Reverend Honey formally dedicated the Soldiers Monument to the fallen men who died during the Civil War Conflict. Up front, perched above the crowd was ‘Old Abe,’ delighting the massive crowd. The coverings were cast aside as the gleaming, white monument bursts forth in all its glory. The large eagle at the top of the shaft brought forth screaming cheers as ‘Old Abe’ squawked his approval.

Spencer’s Military Band broke into a patriotic piece that thrilled the crowd. There was more rousing band music, prayers and a poem written by Peoria’s P.R.K. Brotherson, was read by Colonel Ingersoll, to the mighty cheers of the frenzied crowd. There were numerous encores of patriotic songs followed by more comments from Ingersoll and a call for three cheers for the beloved generals. It was a rollicking, exciting time for all that attended and was the talk of the town for weeks.

Once the formal activities were over the crowd made its way up to and past the new monument, talking up to ‘Old Abe’, smiling, and shaking hands with the celebrities and generals. Slowly they began to drift away, alone and in groups until the once festive scene was bathed in the long shadows of early evening. The cleanup crews hastened to put the courthouse square back in order and when the moon came out it had something brand new to shine upon. There it stood, over the years, a monument to the brave men of America’s Civil War.

THE MONUMENT DISAPPEARS

In the late 1870’s the monument was moved from the original site of Adams and Main to make room for a sidewalk. It was moved over to the Jefferson side of the courthouse where it remained until it disappeared once again, this time for good. In 1962 the old monument, faded and weather-beaten was dismantled and put aside because of the planned razing of the old courthouse. The scheme was to restore it and reassemble it next to the new courthouse, but that never happened.

Journal Star reporters, in informative articles, stated that the remains were discovered discarded out at the Detweiller Marina. The old monument stood proud and symbolic in Downtown Peoria for almost a century. Once the newer Soldiers and Sailors Monument was dedicated in 1899, the Shaft seemed to fade away. So, at one time the courthouse square was the site for two Civil War Monuments, now there is but one. Over at Soldier’s Hill, located inside Springdale Cemetery, stands a beautiful statue called The Sentinel. The lone soldier, high upon a pedestal, represents all of the Civil War soldiers.

Have you been downtown to look at our war memorials lately? Have you ever wondered how many Peorians died in the Korean and Vietnam Wars? There are folks that think we should restore the 1866 monument even though we have a magnificent one already located in our courthouse square. Any chance we should honor the Korean, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan veterans first?

Editor’s Note: Norm is a local historian and author of eight books on Peoria’s history.
norman.kelly@sbcglobal.net

OUR MOST FAMOUS CITIZEN

2011-05-15T10:46:00.000-07:00

It would be interesting to ask Peorians, whom, in their opinion, was Peoria’s most famous citizen? The answer would reflect the age of the person guessing, you think? Now I am talking 1845 to the present time. The guesses would vary from Fibber McGee and Molly, to Amos and Andy, to Richard Pryor to Dan Fogelberg, and quite a few others most folks have never even heard about. My choice, based on his incredible life would be Robert Green Ingersoll. For those few readers that know the name, all they could tell you was that he was a famous agnostic or even an atheist. So how could a guy like that be Peoria’s most famous citizen? Well…I’m glad you asked.

Born in Dresden, New York in 1833, he went on to be a teacher and finally a lawyer. He was known as the greatest orator of our time, and easily compared to Patrick Henry and Daniel Webster. He was referred to as the great infidel and the great agnostic, but to many he was much, much more. He came to Peoria, Illinois in 1857, remaining here until the middle of 1877. He was also the Attorney General of Illinois, 1867-1868. Ingersoll was a local hero here in Peoria during the Civil War. He gave himself the rank of Colonel, and organized a regiment of cavalry. The new colonel gathered his men out at Camp Lyons, where we now call Glen Oak Park. There is a monument there on Prospect Road to commemorate the setting. Colonel Ingersoll was captured during a battle with the Confederate Army but released, and came home to Peoria a hero.

The great man practiced law with his brother Eben, and became nationally famous when he nominated James B. Blaine for president at the Republican Convention in 1876. For two full decades after that he was known as “The premier orator of the nation.” He spoke on many subjects, but religion was the subject people flocked to hear. Here is what he said about religion. “Christianity was good when it taught the beauty of love and the kindness in man. It was bad when it carried a message of eternal grief and damnation.”
Known as a seeker of the truth, Ingersoll fought for free thinking and free speech. He confronted religious leaders pleading with them to seek the truth as well. They, on the other hand, looked upon him in many cases as the Devil incarnate. All anyone has to do is go to our local library and learn the truth of this most honorable, independent thinker, Peoria’s most famous citizen. Although he was a man of the world, he was proud of his connection with Peoria, Illinois.

PEORIA’S MONUMENT

On October 28, 1911 a large crowd gathered at Glen Oak Park to dedicate the Ingersoll Statue
and offer it as a gift to all Peorians. It was Eugene Baldwin, founder of The Peoria Star that labored long and hard to bring the Frederick Triebel monument to Peoria, Illinois. Baldwin opened the ceremonies by telling the crowd that they were there to “Honor the great apostle of liberty.” The statue stands to this day, even though vandals tipped it over in 1950 and during the war there was talk of melting it down for the war effort. It is still there, staring out over the beautiful park drive, not far from Woodruff High School.

Some quotes from the man himself. “The word of God is the creation we behold.” Billed as one of the world’s free thinkers, he said, “I have never denied the immortality of man. I have simply said, ‘I do not know.’ Hundreds of stories were written about Ingersoll, and during the ceremonies yearly in front of the statue, speakers reminded folks of the greatness of Robert Ingersoll. Baldwin said,
“He uttered nothing base. But his heart was all aglow for liberty, for freedom. For the emancipation of the mind and the redemption of the soul.”

Colonel Ingersoll came home to tell of his capture by the ‘Sesesh’, a word coined from secession during the Civil War. He then went on to practice law here in Peoria, which included some famous and important cases throughout the United States. Robert Ingersoll lived by his creed: “Happiness is the only good. The place to be happy is here. The time to be happy is now. The way to be happy is to make others so.”

Ingersoll remained in Peoria until 1877 when he moved to Washington D.C., then on to New York,
where he died in 1899. Mark Twain said of Robert Green Ingersoll, after hearing the orator speak, “It was the supreme combination of English words that was ever put together since the world began.” In 1932 the ashes of Ingersoll were reburied with honors in the Arlington National Cemetery.
One biographer summed up Ingersoll’s speaking technique as follows: “The language of Shakespeare,
the tenderness of Burns.” Robert Ingersoll lived and worked right here in Peoria, Illinois, bringing fame to himself, and honor to this city. Gone now for so many, many years, his words still ring true. Robert Ingersoll was a great American, a loyal patriot and he was proud to call Peoria his home.

1879

Here in Peoria, Illinois the news of the death of Ebon Clark Ingersoll, Robert’s brother and law partner reached the city here on June 3, 1879. Ebon was Peoria’s Congressional Representative after the Civil War, and a man admired locally in his own right. Robert Ingersoll delivered the funeral oration and as usual his words were considered among the finest ever spoken by any man in our history.
“Life is a narrow vale between the cold and barren peaks of two eternities.
We strive in vain to look upon the heights. We cry aloud and the only answer
is the echo of our wailing cry. From the voiceless lips of the unreplying dead
there comes no word; but in the night of death, hope sees a star, and listening
can hear the rustling of a wing.

He who sleeps here, when dying, mistaking the approach of death with the return
of health, whispered with his last breath: ‘I am better now.’

Let us believe, in spite of doubt and dogmas, of fears and tears, that these dear
words are true of all the countless dead.”

As a historian of Peoria history I am often amazed at how truly wonderful this city was, from its beginnings as a trading post, to its peak as a small, cosmopolitan city in the heart of this great nation.
I am proud of the people that have lived here all or most of their lives and went on to fame, fortune and influence throughout this nation and the world. They were all influenced by what they saw and learned here in the heart of Illinois. Robert Ingersoll was just one of them.

Editor’s Note: Norm is a lifelong Peorian and author of ten books on its history. norman.kelly@sbcglobal.net

Grand Old Opera House

2010-07-11T09:49:00.000-07:00

As a local historian most of my writings and speaking engagements concern the bawdy, seedy side of Peoria, Illinois, circa 1845-1950. Seems folks are more interested in our sordid, gangster and gambling past than they are about the truly remarkable history surrounding this great city. So it is with pleasure that I tell you about one of the most beautiful buildings that ever existed here in Peoria, and certainly one of the most interesting ones as well.

Let’s slip back to the 1880’s when life was a bit less hectic, when there was a touch of elegance connected with downtown Peoria, ‘The gem on the Illinois,’ as some writer called Peoria, Illinois. Our population was 29,259, but just a decade later we included 41,024 within the confines of Peoria’s 9.1 square miles of city limits.

In the spring of 1882 the talk among the ‘bluebloods’ was the building being erected just across the street from the courthouse on Hamilton Boulevard. I am referring to the rather wealthy folks in town that had been dreaming about their very own opera house for some time. The ordinary folks in town were not that keen on the idea. The task to bring the dream to reality, fell upon the nationally known Eugene L. Baldwin of THE STAR, a Peoria based newspaper. There were gripes among some citizens that the city could not afford to waste its resources on an opera house for the rich. Mr. Baldwin stopped that complaint by announcing that not one cent of taxpayer’s money would be spent. The wealthy Peorians, led by Mr. Baldwin easily raised the money and now the building was rising up right there on Hamilton Boulevard.

By August of 1882 excitement began to boil over as pictures and articles of the fabulous Grand Opera House appeared in the newspapers. Advertisements for evening dresses, gloves, fancy shoes, men’s wear and evening apparel filled the local ladies with romantic fantasies of a night at the opera. The smaller shops were offering opera glasses and other paraphernalia connected with an elegant night on the town. Meanwhile, over at the building site workmen were putting the finishing touches on Peoria’s most beautiful building. People passing by stood around talking and gawking, watching the progress, anticipating the opening night festivities.

PEORIA’S NEW JEWEL

The moment dawn began to brighten that gorgeous morning of September 7, 1882, eager workers swarmed over the new building. Inspectors, carpenters, and gas-lighting tradesmen were making last minute adjustments. By noon most of them were gone as a large crowd gathered to marvel at the sight of the new building about to come alive.

The Grand Opera House stood three-stories tall, built with red pressed Saint Louis bricks in a Queen Anne Style with decorative stone that framed the structure. The dimensions were 72 feet by 171 feet and stood sixty feet high. Twin towers were attached, soaring to the sky, for a total of 100 feet. Four huge, solid oak doors greeted the visitors, and upon entering the building the interior view was breathtaking. Two sweeping staircases, left and right, with hidden, subdued lighting beckoned the visitor to come forward. Frescos and decorative paintings added to the ambience as the opera patron ascended the plush, carpeted steps.

Patrons were struck by the colors, and vividly blended fineries of the drapes and warmly painted walls. Once the visitor entered the galley, another vista of overpowering views flooded the senses, as the opera enthusiast got the first glimpse of the fabulous stage. On either side of the theatre were the beautifully appointed boxes that hugged the sides of the walls. All eight of the exclusive boxes were heavily carpeted and fringed with colorful material hanging from the edge of each box. Of course, they were draped for privacy and could be converted to four large boxes, if the situation demanded.

Special lighting was evident throughout the interior and even though it was gas-lighted, safety was of the utmost importance. The building was equipped with something called ‘Drummond Lighting.’ Later that type illumination would be referred to as Limelight. Today we would call it state of the art. People who entered the building for the first time walked about in awe, admiring the incredible taste and grandeur of the interior. One quote in the local newspaper summed it up for most Peorians: “I can’t believe we have this place right here in Peoria.”

The Grand Opera House would have the largest stage in town, 72 feet wide and 58 feet in depth. The contractor, John H. Flinn, assured Mr. Baldwin that he would find the building to be “efficient and reliable.” The house would seat 1,744 people, with 634 seats located under the balcony, or the parquet, as it was called. The roomy, upholstered chairs were carefully placed to allow an unobstructed view of the stage. Up in the balcony, six hundred lucky ticket holders could be seated comfortably, with the boxes accommodating another fifty in seclusion.

THE NIGHT OF NIGHTS

Throughout the day, September 7, 1882, it appeared that all the activity in the city revolved around the opera house there on Hamilton Boulevard. By six that evening, folks from all walks of life gathered along Hamilton Boulevard near the new building. They were there to watch the parade of wealthy folks arrive at the opening night of the Grand Opera House in Peoria.

Inside the building some workers were still putting finishing touches on parts of the building, as the opera house employees dressed and prepared for the onslaught of eager first nighters.

Outside, behind the wooden horses and ropes, people strained to get their first glimpse of a carriage heading toward the opera house. “Here they come!” The first shiny carriage was coming down Hamilton Boulevard heading toward the river. Two beautiful, white matching horses strutted as they shied from the crowd that was now clapping and waving at the elegantly dressed patrons inside the open carriage. Wide-eyed women pointed at the ladies as they stepped down from the carriage, aided by footmen. The ladies were then led to the walkway, where they were joined by their escorts, to begin the slow, arm in arm promenade to the front doors of the opera house.

Soon the entire length of Hamilton was flooded with beautiful carriages and matching horses of every breed. The carriages, owned by the brewery barons were pulled by stout, powerful beasts that the local men called ‘fancy plow horses.’ The distillery barons had as many as four matching horses, all high-strung thoroughbreds, strutting their stuff and bringing sighs and applause from the appreciative crowd. Horses and carriages were a common sight in downtown Peoria as the wealthy whiskey barons showed off their ‘high toned, spiffy carriages and high spirited horses.’ As each lady stepped down, the crowd reacted, applauding, whistling and just staring. The men wore high hats with dark, fashionable suits and many of them carried walking sticks bedecked with colorful stones. Some gentlemen even waved at the crowd as they made the slow walk up to the theatre’s entrance.

For over an hour the parade of ‘fancy dresses, show off jewelry and dandies,’ continued until all those that had an opening night ticket were inside. The show was over for the folks out in the street and slowly they drifted away. With box seats at $100.00 and most of the other tickets out of their price range, they headed home.

THE STAGE IS SET

Inside, newspaper reporters interviewed many of the people, and believe it or not the next day every patron that attended the gala opening night was listed in the paper. Excitement mounted as the first-nighters talked among themselves. Suddenly there was silence. The colorful curtains glided open, revealing two-dozen men and women standing on the stage. Mr. L.L. Day stepped forward to welcome the packed house. He introduced the people with him, including Governor Gullen of Illinois and Governor Phelps of Missouri.

The real impetus behind the dream, Mr. Eugene Baldwin, stepped forward bringing a sustained roar from the crowd. His brief remarks ended with, “Let us congratulate ourselves and be happy.” As the dignitaries exited the stage the orchestra began to play, quieting the audience.

As if by magic, the stage filled with the players, and from stage left Emma Abbott, Peoria born, and international opera star flashed her beaming smile at the crowd. The applause exploded as she took in the scene before her, looking at every section of the theatre. Although Miss Abbott was the star of the show, she had surrounded herself with famous singers and players from around the world. It was Abbott’s Theatrical Company that had contracted with Baldwin’s people to stage a three-day opening for the Grand Opera House.

The opening show was the operetta “King For A Day.” The morning newspapers did not give the show great reviews, but the chorus was said to have been magnificent. Miss Abbott was favorably reviewed and referred to as “A child of the city.” Opening night was considered a smashing success and the comments in the newspapers reminded their readers that there were two more exciting events coming from Miss Abbot, and that the festivities marking the opening of the opera house were just beginning.

For the next two nights the crowds gathered, each somewhat larger than the first. Reports stated that the first night raised $8,500 and of that, $5,850 went to Miss Abbott’s theatrical company. Friday evening the opera “Lilly of Blarney,” wowed the patrons, many of whom had tickets for all three nights. Saturday evening, Belin’s immortal “La Ionnambula,” brought the attendees to their feet begging for more.

Because of the immediate success of the opera house, the National Hotel was built nearby. The hotel had a huge bar, and more than one male patron never made it back to the second act. There was a buzzer system installed behind the bar to summon the wayward, but it was generally ignored.

So from the very first night the Grand Old Lady, as the opera house was later called, was a colossal success. Reports stated that each year at least 250 shows of one kind or the other were performed on her magnificent stage. One critic said of the opera house, “She was a meeting place for cabbages and kings.” Great acts like Edward Thomas Booth and The Great Salvini brought works like “The Merchant Of Venice,” and “Othello,” here, which thrilled Peorians to their very cores.

THE LADY GOES DOWN

On December 14, 1909, the tragic news spread around town like wildfire. At 1:30 in the morning the first fire alarm went out bringing every man and available piece of equipment to fight the raging fire at the Grand Old Opera House. Sadly, by the time the inadequately equipped firefighters arrived, Peoria’s most magnificent structure was beyond saving.

Throughout the entire day, and for weeks to come, saddened Peorians shuffled slowly past the ruins of the once proud landmark. The Grand Old Lady was gone, and Peorians mourned her passing. The blighted shell stood there as a grim reminder of her once glorious days, until Frank Ryals bought the land. It was not until 1916 that the vacant spot was turned into a parking lot.

I have thought a lot about that majestic building that brought so much fame, enjoyment and pride to Peoria, Illinois. I thought of the people, the rich and the poor, the famous and the farmer who loved the place so very much. It was truly a majestic, marvel of the times. The next time you hear people talk about Peoria and her gangster and gambling reputation, you tell them about the Grand Old Opera House. A beautiful place that lasted through the Gay 90’s and into the Twentieth Century, right here in our little old town. She’s gone, but her memory faintly lingers to this day.
Editor’s Note: Norm is a Peoria historian and author of eight books available in the local library.
He welcomes your questions and comments. norman.kelly@sbcglobal.net

PEORIA’S RAILROAD DETECTIVES

2010-03-15T10:38:00.000-07:00

PEORIA’S RAILROAD DETECTIVES

NORMAN V. KELLY

Peorians were fortunate over the years to have been served by a brave, well-run police department. People that are familiar with my work know that I found five officers that died in the line of duty and were only just recently honored on police monuments. At one time we elected five Constables to augment our police protection and the downtown merchants hired merchant police officers as well. Constable Arthur Smith died in the line of duty as did Officer Otto Hoffer, a store detective. I would like to tell you of two brave railroad detectives that lost their lives here in Peoria protecting boxcars and railroad property. During the police memorial services here in May they are not mentioned nor honored in any way because they were not Peoria Police Officers. They died in the line of duty, were buried and forgotten.

It was June 28, 1922, when Special Officer Alfred Gifford, a detective with the Rock Island Line lost his life. It was well into Prohibition and the cargo that he was hired to protect was alcohol. Down near the river, there at Spring Street and Rock Island Street, a tremendous number of boxcars waited for locomotives to move them across the United States. Booze, good old Peoria whiskey, stored in our warehouses, was shipped all over America.

Naturally, these cars became targets of bootleggers and violent men after their very prized cargo. Bad guys tunneled under warehouses, came in through the roofs and attacked freight trains on a regular basis. Detective Gifford’s job was to protect his railroad’s property here in Peoria, Illinois.

He came upon a suspicious man that was nosing around one of the boxcars on the early morning of June 27, 1922. “Hey…hey over there where you going?” The man stopped as the detective caught up to him. “What’s your name and where are you from?” The man whirled around to face the officer, a deadly .45 in his hand. Without warning he fired hitting Detective Gifford in the hand. Gifford immediately pulled his weapon and returned fire. The second shot from the intruder slammed into the detective’s stomach.

The detective was now on the ground but still firing. He saw the man crumple and fall to the ground from his third shot. Both men got off a few more shots as the man got up and began to run off towards the river.
Gifford, sitting up now, continued to fire at the escaping trespasser. A massive manhunt was launched in the city and the county, but to no avail.
Detective Alfred Gifford of 108 Fredonia died at Saint Francis Hospital during the evening of June 28th. 1922. He was buried in Maquon Illinois.

It was a cold December evening in 1929 here in Peoria, Illinois. Prohibition was going strong and now Peorians faced something called The Great Depression. Two police officers had just left a restaurant when they heard the sound of gunfire coming from the river down near the bridge.

They took off running and when they got down near the water’s edge they heard a man’s voice. “They got me!” The officers yelled back and finally located a man lying on the railroad tracks. He looked up and gasped his final words. “They got me in the chest…three of ‘em.”

The officers bent over the dying man, but he failed to respond. Both officers knew the dead man as a railroad detective named Emmett Keen. The officers called for help and put the detective’s body on the front of a locomotive, which carried it to the Griswold Crossing. From there an ambulance took Keen to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

A citywide manhunt began early the next morning as detectives gathered footprints, shell casings and of course they rounded up the usual suspects. The body of John Horn was found dumped in a vacant lot, and before the day was out police connected the dead man to Keen’s death. The medical examiner supplied slugs from both bodies and a ballistic expert testified that the slug from Keen’s gun had killed Horn. He also verified that the slug from Keen’s body had come from Horn’s gun. A button torn from Horn’s coat was also found at the scene where Keen had been shot and the busy detectives even traced footprints to two other men. The cops rounded up well over thirty men, and using tactics of the day ended up charging two men, Dunbar and Norton with murder.
So that was all the talk here in town after that strange double shooting just before the New Year’s celebration that would ring in the brand new year of 1930. Detective Emmett Keen was buried and forgotten just like his friend Detective Alfred Gifford.

Editor’s note: Norm is a local historian and has written 8 books about Peoria’s spicy history.
Next month: Norm will bring us another story from Peoria’s distant past. Write him at norman.kelly@sbcglobal.net

Peoria’s Prohibition: 1917

2010-03-15T10:28:00.000-07:00

Peoria’s Prohibition: 1917

New Year’s Day dawned bright and cold that first day of 1917 in Peoria, Illinois, located in what some folks called the ‘heart of Illinois.’ The ice harvesters would be busy that week cutting the ice slabs from the river,
Once folks could pretty much walk across the river from East Peoria to Peoria, the harvest got under way. The coal gatherers remained busy from early October through the bitter winters folks faced here in the middle of America. Peoria folks were used to weather of all kinds, and the winter of 1917 would prove to be as bitter as the other winters around these parts.

Peoria began as a trading village, then grew into a town, and in 1845, it became a city. There were a lot of villages and towns that sprung up along side the Illinois River, at least 30 others, but it was Peoria, Illinois that grew head and shoulders above all the rest. Early on, once our first distillery began making whiskey, the growth was truly astounding.

Although the government census was taken every decade the progress of Peoria was marked not only by it’s human population but it’s buildings as well. Our town was only 9.1 square miles tucked in along the river and busy as a bee. The county was 629 square miles and 28 miles wide, that is East to West and 32 miles North to South a vast rural, farm area that fed off the growth of the city as the city fed off the county’s growth. The census, according to government figures in 1910, showed 66,950 folks lived within our city limits, increasing to 76,121 in 1920. Peoria, “The gem on the Illinois River” was on the grow and quickly became the main attraction between Chicago to our north and Saint Louis to the south. The city was also known as the “Alcohol capital of the world.” As I mentioned the city’s growth was connected closely with the growth in the county and just look how it grew. According to the 14th. census 111,710 souls lived out there within the vastness of Peoria County. Since I brought up alcohol, I’ll fill you in a bit on why we were so closely connected to whiskey.

WHISKEY AND BEER, OH MY

During my twenty-eight years of researching my favorite town I have heard a lot of explanations as to why Peoria had so many breweries and distilleries. My favorite answer is the ‘water’ Yes, sir it was Peoria’s deep and clear well water that brought these makers of booze and beer to our fine shores.
Another is “the Illinois River.” Now that made me laugh when I considered the fact that the Illinois River flowed past a number of cities, not just Peoria, Illinois. There were numerous other reasons, all interesting of course, but like so many things told about Peoria a thin red thread of truth ran through those statements, however most of what was said was simply not true.

The reason that the breweries and the distilleries came to Peoria was so simple that it was over-looked. Keep in mind that early on in America’s history, and I mean way back in the middle of the 1800’s a lot of Americans
practiced some type of temperance. That’s right Prohibition. The grand state of Maine is an example that comes to mind since in 1851 they became a dry state. The temperance and anti-saloon people were active from that moment on with only one goal and that was to leave America completely DRY and free of old John Barleycorn. ( Amen brother.) Believe me when I tell you that the grass roots movement to abolish every saloon in the land was effective in many areas of America. Temperance groups, initially made up of religious women, rapidly grew in America and many other church leaders were out to make America dry. As this movement became more and more successful the makers of beer and booze were on the run. Not so here in Peoria, Illinois. Our local government was here with open arms to any and all the beer and whiskey makers that cared to come here. The city fathers offered not only incentives, like cheap sites, our diverse work force looked like a dream come true for these distillers and brewers and the men were eager to have the jobs. So they headed for Peoria, Illinois and we were mighty glad to have them. An example was the Leisy Brothers of Iowa. As soon as that state went dry the boys packed up and moved to Peoria, Illinois. Think they came here because we had ‘water?’

So, look no further for the answer because it was simply this. The beer and booze makers came here because we wanted them here. Truly, folks it was that simple. Of course we had the water, hell the Illinois River is a pretty long body of water and certainly we had some wells but they played no major role in the selection of Peoria as a site to make their products. Alcohol in Peoria was well established…it defined us early on, and together the city, its people and booze thrived.

A SAMPLE OF OUR SPIRITED PAST

Keep in mind by 1850 we were heavily into the whiskey business and the beer in Peoria was made by German brewers beginning in 1836. Mr. Cole returned to town in 1843 and opened up the Cole Distillery. During the eighteen hundreds we had as many as 17 distilleries perking away along our riverbanks and they distilled incredible amounts of whiskey. I won’t bore you with those stats, but they were impressive. The names ranged from Atlas to Corning to Woolner Brothers. That large number stayed with us, employing men, buying farm goods, causing growth and employment here in Peoria, Illinois and most importantly…population growth for the city and the county. No one really came to Peoria for the view…they mainly came for the available jobs. Peoria folks could see the haze, smell the mash up and down the river and that meant employment to many of them.
I can imagine that it was an environmental nightmare…can’t you?

The number of breweries and distilleries declined and fluctuated for reasons that are too numerous to discuss here, however by 1900 the number of distilleries dropped from 13 down to 10 in 1904. By 1912 there were only 8, and by 1917 there were six. American, Clarke, Corning, Great Western, Standard and Woolner. So I think it is safe to say that we were indeed the ‘Alcohol Capital of the World.” Even though the actual numbers declined these distilleries grew in size absorbing others as they grew. Keep in mind that throughout America there were as many as 700 distilleries and of those 100 made booze for other reasons than drinking. They were scattered about America but nowhere did they have a concentration like we had here in Peoria. Later many folks said that we were the “Alcoholic Capital of the World.” Peoria was always the butt of jokes throughout most of its history.

MAYOR, MAYOR: WHO’S THE MAYOR?

Initially our mayors were presidents and held the office for one year.
Mayors held the office for first one year then two and finally four years.
We had some strong mayors, some weak, some useless and others probably not worth mentioning. The ones we named streets after were:
Gale, Bestor, Cooper, Barker, Reynolds, Brotherson, Kinsey, Clarke, Bryan, and those that I failed to mention because I forgot them. We named a bridge after McCluggage, a high school after Woodruff, and the civic center after Carver. But of all those men, and they were all men, the one that in my opinion had the most influence on Peoria, Peorians and who we were was Edward Nelson Woodruff.

Woodruff was first a mayor, our 45th. in 1903, for a two year term. He would go on to win a total of eleven times and would be our mayor through twenty-four years. In the following years he would lose to Tolson and O’Connor, winning again in 1909. Now just think of this: After that he would battle politician after politician for the next six elections, winning every time. In 1919 he lost to Michel, but won the following election. He won the election in 1935 then lost the next two elections to Dave McCluggage before he took over again in 1941, the crucial war years. Triebel took over after the war was over, thus ending Woodruff’s political career. Triebel stopped gambling in Peoria, but it was Woodruff that had the major influence on how the city grew and what reputation we would have over the years. A lot of what you read depicts Triebel as some grand reformer. Well, he wasn’t and I could use his on quotes to prove it. As an example he took office in May of 1945, but it was not until September of 1946 that he made his big “stop gambling” speech. Does that sound like an impatient reformer to you eager to change Peoria, Illinois? Woodruff was a tremendous influence during Prohibition and World War 11 here in Peoria, Illinois. I could prove that to you but this narrative is about Prohibition in Peoria. Woodruff’s role in that era will be enough proof of his influence.

World War 1

So Peoria, Illinois survived the winter of 1917, our population was growing, our businesses were thriving and people lived a normal, reasonably happy life right here in the old river city. There was talk of war, but Americans, and Peorians were optimistic that the war would stay where it belonged, which was “Over there.” Some Peorians were joining the service, and women were joining the Red Cross while some nurses left to go to Europe. These were super patriotic people who just wanted to help. There was no call for massive troops and life stayed pretty normal as the promise of spring
nodded its sweet head in April of 1917.

Here in Peoria the deadly headlines that April 6, 1917 about America declaring war on Germany did not come as a shock, but it was the most upsetting news they had ever heard, that is collectively as a town. Immediately the “boys” began lining up to “fight the Hun,” and the local papers followed each and every bit of the devastating news. In all, according to reports, over 5,500 of our men went off to places unknown. It was all about saving Europe and supporting the Doughboy, as the soldiers were called. Peoria, Illinois excelled in doing both.

For Peoria that meant a loss of manpower and as the men moved out of their jobs, especially in the distilleries and breweries, men with their families moved in. Our factories, Avery and Holt, along with many others began producing war products from gloves, to tractor treads for the war effort. The town was buzzing with the electrifying news and Peoria, Illinois was at war. During the war manufacturing firms both large and small produced just over 1000 different products of one kind or the other, not all for the war effort, of course. That meant employment for a lot of new men that moved in to our city. Truth is that during the first ten years of Prohibition our population grew by just slightly more than 18,000. Pretty impressive if you consider the circumstances we found ourselves in here in Peoria.

As the summer began many of our young men were long gone, and a new Peorian was in town. The work force was a bit older, but the town never skipped a beat. Our downtown courthouse was the center of attraction as folks migrated down there just to talk over the war. “Old men” sat around the courthouse talking and watching the crowd go by. Peoria was a hub bub of activity and the news from the newspapers about the war was the topic from early morning until dusk. In the evening when the men came home they had no TV or radio to sit around, instead they talked…that’s right they talked over the supper table and they worried and prayed for the safety of our boys in Europe. Some Peorians were ham operators and some managed to put together “home made radios” which were starting to become popular. Bradley Polytech had a small radio station of some kind, and the radio began to spread as the years went on. Finally in 1927 Enos Kohler went on the air right out of his home in the Peoria Heights, with WMBD. Weren’t those early radios called crystal sets?

The town flourished, the factories hummed, the stores in downtown were busier than ever, and our restaurants were full. We had 220 taverns that packed folks in and the beer and whiskey flowed. We had over 100 churches that cashed in as well as prayer groups met to pray for our troops and their safe return home. Peoria took on an even friendlier “hometown feeling,” and life was good. After all what Peorian did not have a relative, loved one, neighbor or friend in the Army? Very few, I would say.

You know it was a funny thing, but unless you had a loved one in the service, life seemed to pretty much go on as usual. It was not until later, after our troops really entered the trenches, that reports of casualties began to appear in our paper. For most folks it was an exciting time, but the reality struck them hard when names of their sons, friends and relatives brought the fear or death and injury home to Peoria.

YET ANOTHER SHOCKER

Now remember, many of the employees of the distilleries and brewers left their jobs here in Peoria to fight the war to end all wars. Well, that’s what Peoria believed along with the rest of America. Those jobs were filled by the men that stayed behind and by those that arrived in Peoria for the express purpose of getting a job either in the booze business or perhaps in one of the many factories we had in Peoria. In August of 1917 some secretary of something or other announced that the distilleries and the breweries would all have to shut down by September 8, 1917. WHAT? Shut down? Now you can talk about outrage, because the men in this town who fed their families off the paychecks from these places were stunned. Their shock turned to anger and the place, as they say, was up for grabs.
I don’t want you to forget about the temperance people…the so-called DRYS. They were busy, busy as could be. It was not lost on them that the war was a perfect time to attack once again. Conservation was the theme they hid behind and they went on an all out campaign to the people of America to Conserve. Why? Why to send bread and food to the troops. And Peoria, like most of American, I suppose, fell for that pitch as well. They handed out pamphlets, went door-to-door and bought newspaper ads as well. We did have a few billboards here in Peoria and more than once the
“Progressive Drys” as they liked to call themselves, had colorful ads placed
on them. You might be asking what it was they were selling? Well remember their agenda has always been “National Salvation,” in other words
“ A Dry America.” If they had to crawl before they ran…well they understood that and they were experts at it. The ads, which included a patriotic picture, said things like this: “Food Will Win The War.” The ads
always referred to wheat, some were about corn and always about SAVING food for the war in Europe. Another campaign of signs and ads had a picture of our Doughboys running over snow holding rifles with bayonets fixed. The caption in large letters asked this question: “THEY ARE GIVING ALL. WILL YOU SEND WHEAT?” Hell, that sounds fair…but according to the local farmers there was more than enough wheat and corn and everything else to see us through this war. It would be a hard task to find a prominent Peorian that would tell you the war would last ‘forever’ Fact is folks here thought that it would last maybe a year…or “something like that.”

The net result was the closing down of the breweries and the distilleries so that America could preserve the precious agriculture assets to feed the troops in Europe…the Europeans and of course America herself. How noble was that? Sounds great except the real reason for doing it was simple enough…to shut down America’s distilleries and breweries and get on with the DRY’s Temperance Movement. It was led by their leader Wayne Birdwell ( birdbrain) Wheeler. Honestly…it was that simple. Now when you get the United States Government on your side the job could be done…and it was. Peoria, Illinois, as of September 8, 1917 would lose jobs, taxes and security to the “Drys.” It made the temperance folks politically strong and just as happy as they could be. Next step was to dry up the entire United States permanently and believe me folks that triumph was just around the corner. The tax from beer and whiskey was massive…and now the government…because of these religious people, was being forced to close down the breweries and the distilleries. Talk about biting the hands that feeds you. That was the sentiment of most Peorians…and they let the newspaper reporters know it.

Peoria had always had its temperance groups, marching, meeting on the streets, marching, marching in and out of taverns. Most Peorians…well the Wets, thought they were comical. Even when Carey Nation came here at the turn of the century, they were not impressed. The Red Ribbon Club, a group of ladies here in town, was constantly rallying and marching in the streets decrying “John Barleycorn.” Prominent speakers, mostly ardently religious men and women came in to town to decry the evils of booze. These people were positive that the real root of all evil was alcohol

Even our local newspapers warned the ladies that they were “biting the hand that fed them,” since some of their husbands and sons were employed in the beer and booze making business. Those warnings fell on deaf ears. After all, the temperance people were doing “God’s work” that is all that mattered to them. So, President Woodrow Wilson and the men of the Congress and the Senate, pushed by Wheeler, decided that America was not doing enough for the “War Effort,” and in their wisdom they decided to do something about the problem.

WAR TIME PROHIBITION ACT

Remember folks this is long before the ‘real’ Prohibition Act was on the lips of every American citizen. This act was really an attempt to conserve food- stuffs…or so the president said. What it said in plain English was this: No foodstuffs could be used to make booze or beer…it was really that simple. Of course there were whys and wherefores and a lot of this and a lot of that. But…to the dismay of the working folks in Peoria it meant the end of the jobs that were connected with the making of beer and whiskey. And…that meant the loss of jobs in related occupations as well. Just think of it all of the brewery and distillery workers would be out of a job in one short month. Hundreds of other jobs were indirectly connected to these breweries and distilleries and I can tell you it was doom and gloom here in town. Farmers that were used to selling everything they grew to Peoria…were devastated. So the United States Government gave the owners of these businesses one month to shut down. Of course that meant all over American but no single city was to be devastated like your hometown…Peoria, Illinois. I mentioned there was anti-German sentiment in America and I can tell you that the temperance people leaped on that sentiment like a fish on a worm. Immediately the beer makers became the first victims. The DRYS made it clear that most of the breweries were owned by Germans…and that ploy worked. The implication was this: “Look at all that money being sent back to Germany.” The breweries were gone even more quickly than the distilleries. Some of you may recall that the Japanese fared little better during WW 11.

The Lever Act was a so-called conservation act aimed at saving our resources, which included everything a farmer grew or raised. We had meatless Tuesdays and sugarless Thursday and Sunday there was no gas to be bought for those lucky people who had motorized vehicles. Of course the government raised taxes on almost everything. Wilson was determined to remind the people that “We are at War.” As I mentioned most folks went about their daily tasks here in town, talking about the war but not allowing it to bother them too much. Believe me this Food Conservation/ Prohibition Act caught Peoria’s attention and in the worst possible way…the pocketbook and the stomach.

I HOARD…YOU HOARD…WE ALL HOARD

That’s a strange looking word and usually means a bunch of Mongolians running over your land. Of course that is spelled horde. No wonder we have such trouble learning how to spell. But here in Peoria, Illinois during that month before the distilleries shut down it had a whole new meaning. I guess you could be kind and just say Peorian’s were just saving a bit of booze for the uncertain future. The local liquor distributors took a view of it that sent folks tearing off to the local stores for beer, wine, beer, whiskey of every sort and anything else they thought might be scarce. And…buy they did. The newspapers got into the act by selling large ads to these businesses and the race was on. Of course the local beer and booze makers understood the problem and they added every worker and bottle line they could to meet the demand. It reminded one alderman of ants gathering food for the winter. To drinking Peorians it was simply the smart thing to do. I can tell you that many people…even those that did not drink hoarded for the investment possibilities and it paid off big time.

Later reports of complaining wives made the newspapers and of course the religious leaders chastised the men that spent grocery money for booze instead of food. Hell, many of the men thought they were doing what any sensible drinking man would do…hoard the stuff…and they did. Believe me during WW 11 hoarders turned that act into the art of the black market…but that is another story.

In good old America and certainly in Peoria the demand went up and you guessed it so did the price. In the end that month proved to be a boom to the local economy and certain state, local and Federal taxes. See how all that worked out?

TAVERN TAVERN ON THE CORNER

We had well over two hundred taverns in town and perhaps 75 out in the county. Many Peorians worried about the fate of these businesses. Among them the drinker…the cooks…the waiters and waitresses…the farmer…
the whores…the gamblers…the drunk…the pickle man and the peanut man, were all worried for many different reasons. Landowners that owned the buildings, truck drivers and cleaning people, you name it, Peoria’s very social and economic life revolved around these taverns and their fate was very uncertain. What would we do without our taverns? City and county officials were among the major worriers as well as they clearly could see that their tax base was about to erode…and politicians hate that fact like a thief hates bright lights.

In Peoria we had the Irish, the Germans, the Italians, the Lebanese and many, many other ethnic and diversified groups living here in Peoria, Illinois. The local tavern or the neighborhood tavern came about as these ethnic groups settled in different parts of the city. Now remember…we are only 9.1 square miles of city, so when I say different parts of the city that meant they were still pretty close together. The southend…the northend…the west and east bluffs and of course the downtown and near downtown area. So far these taverns were not affected, nor were they told to close down. But to many local folks the handwriting was on the wall.

Averyville was a village of 5,000 or so folks and they were always “in the way” so to speak. When Peoria talked about the bridge we call McCluggage there was a lot of politicking going on. Let’s face it the Peoria politicians wanted to annex Averyville and the battle was on. When the new bridge was to be built, Peoria politicians wanted some control over that area…but they had to annex Averyville to get it. Finally in 1926 or so the deed was done…it was a battle…physically and politically and finally the Supreme Court ended the battle. Averyville was ours. That meant the folks there…the businesses and of course the taverns would be in the control of the City of Peoria. I brought up taverns because they played a special role in our history. Not only before Prohibition but all during our history and Averyville had their fair share.

Food, beer and whiskey…that’s what our taverns sold and they were a major business in our town. Now the Irish and all the other groups I mentioned had a tendency to go to their own local taverns. They went to their own neighborhood taverns not only for the ethnic food that they craved but for plain old social reasons. They knew the owner, the bartender and of course most of the folks that patronized the places.. It reminds me of “Cheers’ and the song that went along with that TV program, “where everybody knew your name.” Also the police, called Rounders in the 20’s who patrolled these taverns knew every living soul that frequented these places. If he did not know you he would come up and ask who you were. Now, don’t you see how that system worked to preserve peace and quiet in these tavern and our neighborhoods? It worked like a charm. Peoria, although diversified, had its own prejudices and believe me these systems of local taverns did more to preserve the peace than another hundred cops would have done

So that was the picture during the month of August and early September of 1917. Where would it lead us? What would happen when the breweries and the distilleries shut down? What would happen to all those wonderful taverns? Of course, some of them were despicable dumps…but all of them had their customers…the good, the bad and the ugly. Could Peoria, Illinois really survive all these changes that were coming down the pike? Peoria, Illinois…no beer… no booze… no life? Well, history has recorded those events and I will reveal them as we move into 1918.

FARMER, FARMER IN THE DELL

Remember how big our county was, and those vast rural lands out there? Well, for over six decades the farmers in Tazewell, Peoria, Woodford and surrounding areas had it made in the shade…as Peorian’s used to say. Think of it. As many as 17 distilleries and five to eight breweries waiting here in Peoria for the farmer to bring in his harvest. A ready market…just think of that. Now…the farmer for the first time was in a political/temperance bind that he had no way out of at all. Some folks even thought that the temperance movement really began in the rural or farm area. They thought it was a rebellion against the citified folks and there is some historical truth to that theory. Few Peorians had the capacity or desire to get at the root of all these issues. They had a job, a family and a wonderful home…they wanted to keep it. The farmers certainly wanted their farms to grow, their families to thrive no doubt about that. Why on earth would they want Prohibition? Religious beliefs drive people in compelling ways and believe me that passion was what was driving the anti-saloon and temperance people here in Peoria at any rate, so I am sure some farmers had ambivalent feelings about Prohibition.. It amazes me how they could care less about America and towns like Peoria, Illinois and their very financial survival, but they were doing God’s work. It was truly a religious movement, and who could stop it? Apparently no one and certainly not the elected officials who were put in office by the temperance people to push and vote on Prohibition in America.

One important thing that people here in Peoria, Illinois bought hook, line and sinker was that the prohibition of food products for the making of booze and beer was just a “Temporary Law.” That’s what we believed here folks…just a temporary thing. Why as soon as this war is over the ban would be lifted and our breweries and our distilleries would be back in business. The returning doughboys would be home, they would have their jobs back and life would be fine. WRONG.

PEORIA: 1918

Peoria was getting used to the fact that their breweries and distilleries were
sitting in the dark. Actually a couple of lines were open in one of the
distilleries to produce alcohol for the government and for “Medicinal Purposes.” Some men maintained maintenance jobs in the distilleries and breweries to be ready when the food ban was lifted. Many of the men managed to get jobs in the factories that made wartime products and Peoria began to realize that they could indeed endure this temporary setback. After all we were at war, and Peoria could be and was just as patriotic as any other American city. So, Peoria moved ahead. However…what was going on in Washington, DC that would change their lives forever seemed to be hidden in the war headlines and articles here in Peoria, Illinois. Prohibition…with a capital “P” was looming its monstrous head again…and this time it looked like there was going to be real trouble “Right here in River City” and that did not bode well for Peoria, Illinois.

So here we were…it was 1918, Peoria had survived the initial shock of the beer and booze makers closing and things were settling down to normal. The war raged and now our troops were in the thick of things. Peorians endured the minor irritation of the conservation going on and things got back to normal. Remember the farmer continued to suffer…of course they sold their products but the day of the easy…ready market here in Peoria was gone. They managed to survive because people have to eat. But as far as a ready market, in fact an eager market that was all a thing of the past. How long would all this last? How long could they endure? Even the most optimistic Peorian had no real idea. It was in the hands of the government ‘And that “ain’t good.” The only people content with the situation were the DRY.

In downtown Peoria huge crowds would gather as our men were sent off to the war, parades would snake through the town, flags were waved, soldiers marched and bands played. Now some of these men were draftees and not exactly happy to be among those chosen, but Peoria was at its patriotic best, and the band played on.

Most of the men folk retired to their favorite saloon after these rallies and they were happy that at least those places were still open. The hoarders could still hold onto their cached booze as long as the taverns had supplies. They were dwindling of course, and the price was higher but at least they were still there. Again, they were open for the food, the beer, the booze and the gathering of the “bar talkers.” We had our share of liquor stores as well and so far their doors were still open. All was not lost...yet.

JUST ANOTHER SURPRISE

Just before they closed our distilleries Peoria made roughly one third of all the whiskey produced in the United States. They paid something like 35 million in taxes annually and virtually supported the City of Peoria, Illinois for 67 years. The whiskey trust led by Mr. Greenhut, living here in Peoria, was working to keep a few lines open in two of the distilleries . A small amount would be used for medicinal purposes and some would be used for making alcohol that was called denatured. The United States Government authorized as many as 16 toxins to be distilled with this alcohol. Of course that made the damn stuff poison…pure and simple. Not to worry it was branded with warnings…big black letters…no less. Later too…the phrase “Rot Gut Booze,” was all too common here in Peoria, Illinois. Of course that killed people…mainly the poor alcoholics in town that would literally drink anything…anything at all that even hinted at having alcohol in it.

Peoria always had a few men that loved to brew their own whiskey…yes we had some that was called White Lightning…and White Mule…but whatever it was called it was still almost s potent as the denatured alcohol.

Peorians were being told through their local newspapers that the government had estimated that this temporary prohibition would save forty million bushels of grain, thousands of tons of coal, and countless other savings. All of this would benefit the war effort. Of course all Peorians…well the WETS wanted to hear was this news: Reports indicated 232,404,870 gallons of whiskey was already stored in America’s warehouses. Peorians were happy to know that thousands of those gallons were stored right here in Peoria, Illinois. The government never mentioned the thousands of jobs that were being lost…but the local papers did carry quotes from folks making that complaint known.

I mentioned J.B. Greenhut, a man that came to Peoria in 1856. He became a very wealth man, and certainly made himself known here in Peoria and within the alcohol business world. Actually he dealt in tin while he lived in Austria, but got in the much more lucrative business of booze when he came here. He soon headed up the Peoria Cattle Feeding Company and led the Whiskey Trust that included distilleries all over America. A highly respected man in this town I can tell you that.

THE SIXTY-SIXTH CONGRESS

I am not going to tell you that my relatives…and yours were ignorant of the ways of Congress…but I suppose that is probably close to the truth. Keep in mind the turmoil in Peoria during 1917 and 1918. What with the war, the loss of our loved ones, Food Prohibition and the closing of our source of income, things were pretty chaotic…to say the least. So, when the 66th. Congress convened in Washington, in 1919 they pretty much did it without the knowledge of the typical, hard-working Peoria.

Keep in mind that the anti-saloon people, along with the temperance people had finally consolidated their efforts and by the end of 1917 there were 25 DRY states in the United States. Now that was quite an accomplishment indeed. Now the final goal…for some their lifetime goal was near. All they needed to do was to get the Congress to agree to amend the Constitution of the United States. Just vote ‘Yes’ for the 18th. amendment and God would have been served.

Here in Peoria with the war news, small articles about this new Congress were printed and I am sure some folks read them. I certainly know for a fact my relatives did not read them. But this was America and all of us are represented and if there were going to be an amendment change surely there would be a tremendous debate over it and the representatives from Peoria and this area would protect us. That’s what a majority of Peorians believed. And…don’t forget we had the whiskey lobby and our own J.B. Greenhut. They would fight for the right of Peoria to make whiskey…surely they would. Right? Wrong!

THE WAR IS OVER!

It’s over over there and the war to end all war makes the world a safe place once again. In Peoria the news was received at 1:52 A.M. in the news rooms of Peoria’s newspapers. It was now November 11, and the war had been over since 11-11-1918 they just did not know when the last shot had been fired. What glorious news. The men that first received the news were a bit skeptical because there had been one hoax on them…and they were cautious. This hoax was perpetrated on THE STAR and they fell for it like a ton of bricks. As soon as the news came over the wire that morning of November 7, 1918 the men went into action. Soon young men were running around down town holding newspapers and yelling…EXTRA, EXTRA WAR IS OVER! Well the outcome of all that over eagerness cost the paper some trust from Peorians to say the least. They quickly sent a check to the local Red Cross for $375.00 after admitting their mistake.

After some phone calls and contacting the newspaper bigwigs the news was judged accurate.…and their excitement began to boil over once again.. They thought of waiting for a decent hour to tell Peoria, but quickly telephone calls were made to their own homes. The newsroom workers gathered together with the pressmen and the news spread. Secret stashes of booze suddenly appeared and in between telephone calls the men celebrated.

Of course once the folks at home were up and awake the calls all over town were made. The system was quickly overwhelmed…remember this is 1918.
Before sunup folks from Peoria and out in the county began to gather downtown around the courthouse square. They walked and biked and rode every kind of vehicle that had wheels. Horse and buggy, carriages, and men and boys on horseback. As the crowd grew the noise increased as they greeted each other. I don’t think they hi-fived in those days, but there was a lot of hand shaking and hugging going on.

At 7:30 that morning Mayor Woodruff threw open the doors of the city hall and summoned every politician he knew along with his many friends. He notified the police and the fire department and ordered them to notify the taverns in town that they were not to open until he told them to do so. The mayor proclaimed the day a holiday and left it up to the local business men to decide if they wanted to open or close. The crowds were pouring off the streetcars carrying every kind of noisemaker they could find. Toy drums, garbage cans, metal cans and pots and garbage lids. Some people brought every kind of instrument except a piano with them as they jammed the area around the city hall and the courthouse. It was pandemonium with a huge smile…”My God! The War is over!”

The mayor then tacked a huge sign on the door of the city hall. This time he made it a proclamation. All stores would close at noon and he ‘ordered’ ALL Peorians to come on downtown and celebrate.

PEORIA CELEBRATES

By 10:00 AM thousands of folks were jamming the downtown area. Slowly the streets filled up and people were elbow to elbow, yelling, screaming, banging on everything they could find. Cars that had driven downtown were now hopelessly stalled and people were sitting all over them like park benches. Although the taverns were closed…Peorians were now in the habit of carrying flasks and the alcohol began to flow. People that lived close-by quickly supplied their friends with some libations and things were really getting to be fun…if you get my meaning.

The word spread that the mayor was going to speak and the crowd crowded in even tighter waiting to hear from their favorite mayor. Of course no politician worth his salt was going to pass up and opportunity like this so they too battled their way to the courthouse steps. By now local bands were finding each other and impromptu parades…led by these musicians wound
through the streets. The crowds managed to make way for each new group playing the patriotic songs of WW 1. Peoria had a few buildings that rose up above the street, a couple as high as ten stories, and as the bands strutted by tons of shredded fell down upon the heads of the band and the people that lined the streets.

Reporter from the newspapers recorded the mad scene, reporting that one long line of about 1,500 kids held hands and snaked their way round and round the courthouse square. At noon every church anywhere near downtown began to ring its bells, mesmerizing the crowd. Religious groups stood together, their hands in the air, thanking God for the end of the war.
The folks wanted no part of the speeches after all and were delighted by the arrival of military bands that formed groups before marching off down Main Street and then around the courthouse. Once the band passed, folks fell in behind them only to be followed by another band. It was a wonderful, magic time that lasted until late that afternoon.

Finally, the politicians got their chance to speak, but by then the crowd was a bit subdued and ready to listen. Well those that had not consumed too much of old John Barleycorn, at any rate. The crowds were invited to the Coliseum, which held 7,000 people and to the Shrine Mosque as well for patriotic music and of course speeches from the local politicians and religious leaders. Many of the older folks were glad to have a place to head for that promised a seat and maybe a little less noise.

Now all Peoria wanted was to bring their doughboys back home. Next they wanted the breweries and the distilleries opened up and their town back to work and a normal life. They got most of their doughboys back home safely, but their breweries and distilleries were going to have to be listed “Missing in Action.” For a lot longer any single person in Peoria could even imagine. That nightmare would include their taverns as well. But that was down the road and right now the war was over and that was all that counted. Sadly the real truth was about to be revealed to the City of Peoria, and believe me it was not going to be good news.

THE AYES HAVE IT

When the Senate got the proposal to ban alcohol in America and vote on the Eighteenth Amend it took 13 hours to pass in a one-sided vote in favor of the bill. Not to worry we did have a House of Representatives and a President…didn’t we? Someone will stop this stupid bill…just you wait and see.
Wrong again.

When Congress got their hands on the Senate bill they debated all of one working day, minus breaks and lunch of course. They then voted in favor of the amendment overwhelmingly. So…there it was. The next step was to send it to the state governors for ratification or defeat. They gave the bill 7 years…that’s right…seven years to be law or just another failed bill. Less than thirteen months later the bill had easily won ratification and it needed three-fourths of the States to agree. Hell…it was not even a contest. The DRYS had conquered.

Remember at least twenty-five states are already dry…different varieties of prohibition in one county…perhaps different in another. Now, all counties in all states in all 48 states would be dry as a bone. That’s what the temperance folks had prayed for and with God’s guidance they had one. Hallelujah! Well it did not take the People in Peoria and the rest of the world to find out just how insane this new law was. It also brought to America the most corrupt, dangerous, gangster-ridden thirteen years in its history. The DRYS had won the battle…now the war was just starting. Hallelujah indeed.

So the Prohibition Act…the 18th amendment was sent off in a bill to be rejected or approved. It took One year and 8 days to be ratified. Here in Peoria the folks still thought that Prohibition would be rejected. Or…according to some quotes in town. “The dang thing won’t last more than a year or so.”

RATIFICATION

Now all of this was done with the guiding hand of the temperance woman…and get this…she never even had the right to vote. That would come with the Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution. Gender neutral as far as voting was concerned was the goal and a majority of Peorians were all for it. Believe me when I tell you that here in Peoria, Suffrage was a lot more heatedly debated than Prohibition. Now we had both. Harding died and Coolidge became President of the United States. Maybe he would do something about this damn Prohibition Law. Wrong again.

On January 1, 1919 Mississippi was the first State to ratify the new Prohibition law. Nebraska and Tennessee seemed to have tied were the 36th, and that is all they needed. Poor little Rhode Island never ratified the Act and people here in Peoria bragged about them and their defiance. Now the laws would prevail upon the land and peace and tranquility would permeate the very souls of all the sober Americans. That’s what the temperance idiots preached. Just look what Billy Sunday said, the great preacher who helped lead his disciples on the long journey to Prohibition. By the way he never came to Peoria, Illinois until 1934. He was greeted and treated like a major hero even though the fools that adored him had just lived through thirteen years of financial difficulties and the most corrupt, violent times of our history.

The preacher said: “ The REIGN OF TEARS IS OVER. The slums will
Be a memory. We will turn our prisons into
factories and our jails into storehouses and
corncribs. Men will walk upright now, women will
smile and children will laugh. Hell will be forever for
rent.”

So the “Noble Experiment” was just down the road. Peoria had managed to survive through the Temporary Prohibition and now what? The Prohibition law would not begin until January 16, 1920 and that meant that there was still time to either adjust or move to another city. With that thought Peoria began to agitate over the fact that the distilleries and Breweries were still closed. They began to contact politicians to get something done. The doughboys were coming home to the horrible fact that not only were their jobs gone the booze was too. Many of them stated that what they dreamed about was sitting around the taverns here in Peoria and just talking. Just “Hanging Out” as we say today, but now what? The jobs were gone and now they were certain that their taverns would also bite the dust. What a hell of a mess they faced. Some of them told the press…”We should have stayed in Europe.’’ It was bleak here in town and the returning veterans seemed to take it worse than the rest of Peoria. Perhaps they had more to lose? Right at that moment the only hope they had was to have the distilleries and the breweries open up. At least they would have six months of a job, and the taverns and the liquor stores could replenish their supplies of beer and booze. Was that too much to ask? They’d risk their lives for America at least she could give them this one break. Wrong again.

1919: MORE OF THE SAME?

New years Eve was a wild, wild scene here in Peoria, Illinois and the folks here decided that this just might be the last really Happy New Year. There was plenty of beer and booze in town and the WETS tried to drink it all. The DRYS were happy…since I don’t know what they do for New Years Eve let’s just forget about them.

What I am going to do here in 1919 is really show you what Peoria was all about. I might bore you a bit on some of the statistics, but if you have a true interest in our town I’ll try to paint you a picture.

CEREAL BEER

What is cereal beer? Peorians joked that they thought it was like something you were supposed to pour on cereal. Most folks scoffed at it even when they found out that this product was so-called near beer. I guess we could relate to a product available today that smells like beer…even taste a little like beer but has little or no alcohol in it. Only one I can think of is O’Doul’s. But since the government allowed the product breweries did began to produce it. One brewery had BEVO. The Pabst plant produced PABLO and the great Schlitz organization brought out FAMO. Stroh’s produced a line called LUX-O. All of these near beers were frowned upon and one reporter here in Peoria stated that the consensus in Peoria was that the stuff was just colored water and was not worth the glass it was bottled in. Other near beers popped up and then faded. Still the local taverns as late as 1919 still had some supplies of decent beer and some whiskey. No real beer drinker would drink this colored water when and if the real stuff was still available. Beer was much shorter on supplies than booze was and beer drinkers were “Learning to accept the hard stuff.” Does that surprise you?

So as we jump into 1919 the final year before the real Prohibition hit us I will tell you that some of our bars were pretty tough back then and were controlled only by our tough cops. In 1916 Officer Enos was accidentally
Killed and Officer Norman Gray was killed inside one of our bars in 1917.
1917 saw the death of Sam Moffatt and Officer Carr was killed in 1918.

1919: PEORIA DEFINED

1919 was a pretty typical year when it comes to describing the downtown area of this marvelous city. So I might bore you with this, but to me it was always fascinating to me how really huge Peoria, Illinois really was. Again, not in miles but for shear entertainment, employment opportunities and our fascinating downtown area. Keep in mind we were IT. Peoria was surrounded for miles by small towns, vast open space and farms that dotted the landscape. To visit Peoria, Illinois was something to look forward to and believe me people came from all over to spend time here. They were fed, they drank, they gambled, ladies of the evening, live entertainment and of course ‘moving pictures.’ We had our seedy, bawdy and dangerous side but that just added to the over all entertainment of this great city. We had prostitutes, madams, gaming table, booze, beer and as the kids say today, ‘whatever.” This was the place to be and Peoria grew as a result of that reputation s being a wide-open bawdy town. Still some folks never drank, never gambled and certainly had nothing to do with the “ladies of the night.” Some visitor told the press that even though Peoria had some rough spots, it was the “Jewel along the Illinois river.” Now we faced Prohibition…what would that bring to Peoria?

PEORIA: IT’S GOT THIS AND THAT

Since I have spent the last twenty-eight years in research of Peoria one thing dawned on me rather early. With all the great history books and the historians the one real historian over-looked was the newspaper reporter.
Just think of what they have recorded over the years. Certainly here in Peoria they did their jobs day in and day out, year after year. Ever wonder how many newspapers were here in town? I bet most of today’s Peorians would tell you about the STAR and The JOURNAL, but there were many, many more. Just look what newspapers were here in 1919. Some were small, some daily, some weekly, but they all employed people and they all recorded out history. Some were biased and one-sided but most were just trying to survive financially as they brought the news to the people of Peoria, Illinois.

Located in our downtown area were these newspapers: Please excuse me but I have no desire to italicize all these newspaper names…so I’ll just use a capital letter here and there.

Peoria Morning Transcript Daily Bulletin The Family Friend Illinois
Journal of Labor Sunday Journal Transcript The Polyscope Retail Merchants Journal Illinois Retail Merchants Journal Peoria Evening Journal The Tech Peoria Evening Star Peoria Labor Gazette. One or both of these papers were printed in German: Peoria Sonne and the
Sonntags-Glocke.

Here is a question that I have never been able to answer…from any source. Why did we have so many Notary Republics in town? We had 428 of them and they represented every type of employment from lawyers to the guy next door. Think of that. They got anywhere from a dime to a quarter to notarize someone’s signature but it just struck me as strange that they would all be listed. I was a notary and believe me “I guarded my seal with zeal.” That’s humor son…in case you over looked it.

CAN I BUY THAT IN TOWN?

The answer to that was an astounding ‘Yes.’ I am only going to name a few products available here. I can tell you that well over 1000 different kind of ‘things’ were made here and in 1919, in spite of our setbacks, people seemed to be getting along fine. Unemployment has always been a problem because so many able-bodied men and women move into Peoria looking for a job, but most of them found one.

We had numerous companies in town dealing in lumber, steel and tin. A dozen or so printing firms and three huge paper mills grew up here in Peoria, Illinois. Machine shops of all kinds competed with the small manufacturing companies here in town. We made mattresses and cigars along with tire and car and truck makers. Horses and horse racing were big in town and many companies made every kind of rig connected with a horse
possible…including the carriages and buggies and sleds. We were the center of bicycle events and people came from all over to the horse and bike races held here. Voss Brothers could sell, repair and build any kind of bike that was imaginable at the time.

Hungry? In the downtown area we had 14 ‘lunch rooms’ which would prove important here in Peoria once alcohol had to really go ‘underground.’
Seventy-eight restaurants were available as well as 82 meat markets, scattered around and convenient to patrons.

To process that meat we had 8 wholesale meat processors including Armour’s and Swifts and a huge stockyards that employed hundreds and grew to be a massive business in town. All that success spawned other businesses, and here it was trucks to move all that material, Of course we did not just sell all of these things locally, and that begot trains. Peoria was extremely important where trains were concerned when it came to shipping our products across the nation. We had 14 steam driven train companies visiting Peoria, along with three electrical rail companies. They all moved freight and people and were a vital link to Peoria’s success.

The farmers in Peoria…some were actually within the city limits…were blessed to have this eager market so close to them. Eight milk dealers were in town and home delivery was made mainly by a horse drawn vehicle. Two large milk companies included Church’s and Roszell.

Downtown included a cluster of stores that brought people from all over this area to Block n’ Kuhls, Bergners and countless other businesses called millinery stores. Szolds was a store located in the southend and stayed here in Peoria many, many years. I think there is a Szolds now over near Sunnyland.

Men’s stores were busy places and we had twelve of them. Early Peorian’s were not quick to discard anything…especially shoes. Here in town we had 57 shoe repair shops and if you wanted your shoes shined you had 16 shoe shine parlors to pick from. (Ladies Welcome.) Music was big and we had 12 music stores and 43 music teachers and a music conservatory.

We had 125 doctors…registered that is, two midwives and 9 occulists and aurists (for the ear) all located downtown. Of course we had a plethora of quacks. There are 120 nurses in Peoria and many of them are free-lance ladies, some of course work in the hospitals and doctor’s offices of all kinds, palm readers, fortune-tellers ‘Gypsies’ star gazers and cults. We had an active KKK and every other kind of weirdo you could imagine. As I said we had everything you could possible imagine…if you had the price. That was my town…Peoria, Illinois heavier manufacturing was growing with Holt, soon to be manufacturing Caterpillars. There was Avery and Keystone, however these big employers were actually outside our city limits. Any wonder why our leaders wanted Averyville and Bartonville to annex to Peoria? I didn’t think so.

We had glassmakers, newspapers depots as they called them…we called them news stands. There were veterinarians with a huge practice connected with horses and cattle. I can tell you only the rich took their dogs and cats to vets…the animals lived or died…and then another stray would stop by and it would start all over again. It isn’t because the folks did not care they simply did not have money to spend on pets. There were no dog foods like we know today. Dogs lived off scraps, bones and whatever else they could scrounge. Hell, there were plenty of men in our town that lived the same way. Life could be tough and believe me in 1919 it was not much better.

Peoria had publishers, real estate agents, fish and ice companies and tons of roofers and carpenters of all kinds. Plumbers, bricklayers, builders and excavators of all shapes and sizes. Coal was huge in Peoria and that industry employed a lot of men, that’s for sure. They dug it, hauled it and shipped it and in every yard that did not have a basement the coal was piled up. On of my jobs as a kid was to see to getting that damn coal in…and I hated it.

The making of stoves and furnaces was also a big business in Peoria along with painters and cement handlers. The town was the center of everything imaginable and people came in on the weekends by the thousands. We had
37 tailors and 11 undertakers and sometimes the two combined their talents to take the deceased to the “great beyond.” We had 4 talking machine companies and I am not certain what they did. You could hail or call a cab and even be driven around in a limo. They would rent you a touring car or a wagon for a hay rack ride.

We had thirteen theatres downtown, where “moving pictures” were shown and of course some of them had Vaudeville available for folks as well.
We had the Columbia, Garden, Empress, the huge Hippodrome at 213 S. Jefferson and the beautiful Orpheum .The imperial and Lyceum on Fulton and the palace that was located at 1203 S. Adams. Later it would be rebuilt up on Main Street. The Princess was a cute little theater along with the Majestic and the Apollo. Just think of that entertainment and then think of a town out in the Country. The draw to Peoria, Illinois was incredible. Cars were coming into their own and Peoria built an electric car called the Glide and many trucks were built here as well washing machines were big business as were jewelry stores and drug stores. Teddy Roosevelt was riding in a Glide built by Peoria Bartholomew when he uttered these famous words…well for Peorians, that is. He said the drive he was driving on was the “Worlds most beautiful drive.” Keep in mind he was a politician. But those words became famous in Peoria and later the local radio station in 19e7 was assigned those call letters. Of course to the uninformed that meant The World’s Most Beautiful Drive. This too was just another myth concerning Peoria, Illinois. Mr. Kohler remembered the great man’s name and used that phrase as his own. Rasio Station WMBD, 1470.

We had three hospitals in town and many current people have no idea that they were built by religious people. Proctor, Saint Francis and Methodist were competing religions in Peoria and believe me that carried through in these hospitals as well. Is it true today?

A GREAT LITTLE TOWN

Population in the city was 76,120 and counting the adjacent areas the population was 91,899 with many more way out in the county. The folks in town were getting used to finding other employment and we were so diversified that the adjustment was a lot less painful than anyone could have imagined. With just 10 miles of the city 105,000 people lived and that is a lot of consumers.

We had 30 grade schools, three high schools, 8 parochial schools and Bradley Polytech Institute, which included a Horology school. We had a total of 12,313 kids in school, plus the folks at Bradley. Steam and packet boats were still coming into Peoria and they were big business. Peoria Water Company handled the growth rather well, and many people had all the conveniences of the modern home. Of course many lived in poverty, were homeless, living along the river and some were just plain bums.

We had a lot of ‘Colored’ people living in Peoria, and 30 designated ‘other races.’ We had 32,275 male voters registered and most of them actually voted when called upon. Peoria led the nation in park and beautiful parks for any city our size. There were ten parks and they were used by most folks in town almost weekly. Of course Grand View Drive was the pride of Peoria even though some of it ran into Peoria Heights. That was another village that did not want to become park of Peoria, Illinois and has not to this day. This was the drive that Roosevelt raved about.

Peoria always had a good police and fire department. They had 65 call boxes where police could report in and 388 fire alarms along many of our streets.
Of course we had too many lawyers and not enough doctors or dentists.
In Bryan Ogg’s book on Spirits in Peoria there is a picture of the steamboat David Swain. It has a long banner attached to it that said Peoria paid 35 million in annual taxes for alcohol. They tried to influence the do-gooders but that like everything else did not stop the temperance folks.

Another thing ignored by the DRYS was the fact that most of the important buildings in downtown Peoria were financed by beer and whiskey money. Did that make any difference? Hell no. The large banking business grew because of the excess millions these whiskey and beer barons had. It brought in educated bankers and finance people, but none of that had any influence once the temperance people gained some political power.

Taverns paid an average of $169,472 just for the liquor license fees in town, and of course most of what they sold, rented, leased or owned generated money for the city coffers Can you imagine how many people were employed in all these taverns, and just how many depended on the salaries from this business alone? Soon I will tell you about the Prohibition Act and the Volstead Act and how they shaped Peoria’s history.

FINAL COMMENTS ABOUT 1919

America lost one of it’s favorite sons when Teddy Roosevelt died, he was certainly liked and admired here in town. That was sad news but the WETS cheered when the local newspaper reported that right here in Peoria there was $75,536,150 worth of bonded whiskey stored in our warehouses. That does not mean it tasted better than any other whiskey, but the taxes are paid. People who were later called ‘Bootleggers’ took note of this bit of news as well. The government is still holding to the food prohibition and the folks in Peoria have a two pound limit on sugar. They are not fooling anyone because everyone knows there is no shortage of sugar or anything else for that matter. The Feds are trying to stop men from buying vast quantities of sugar for stills. Of course that does not work. I’ll tell you more about stills when they really begin to perk and irritate the DRY agents.

Next there is a fuel shortage and that closes our high schools and all the stores in town reduce their hours that they are open. Peorians are irate and the talk is that it is just another government manipulation. Of course everyone is disgusted with local politician and the Senate and Congress for not lifting the stupid ban on the breweries and distilleries. Peoria is not happy with the president…whoever the hell he is. Remember…that law was “Temporary” and Peorians are up in arms. So…what do they do about it? Why they go to the saloons and gripe about “The damn politicians Big strike over at Keystone and police say 35 shots were fired. No body killed, and Peorians wonder if the police exaggerated the battle or those steel workers are horrible shots.

THE FINAL WORD

All hope is gone this June of 1919. The Senate and the Congress passed the amendment to the Constitution of the United States, and it has come back ratified by three-fourths of the States. It is over…there is no hope. The hoarders were right. Now what in the hell are the WETS going to do for a drink in this town? Believe me when I tell you they manage to work it out.

Already robbers and hi-jackers are active attacking boxcars with whiskey in them. Around the state and here as well, police say there have been 37 bank robberies. Peorians tell the press these guys are getting money together to buy booze from bootleggers. From the evidence they are probably correct.

And so we say goodbye to 1919, since 1917 it has been a depressing time for the WETS as they waited to see what was going to happen to the breweries and distilleries in their hometown. By the time 1919 ended all the questions had been answered…all in the negative. Peoria now was trying to get ready for the “Roaring Twenties.” Although there was plenty of doom and gloom to contend with Peoria would survive…thrive and grow during the upcoming decade. I can tell you it surprised the hell out of everyone…especially the DRYS.

THEY CALLED HIM MEXICAN JOE

2010-03-15T10:27:00.000-07:00

THEY CALLED HIM MEXICAN JOE

Norman V. Kelly

He said his name was Jose’ Ortiz, a descendent of the Aztecs, but everyone knew he was just a young man from Mexico. He could speak English when it suited him, but mainly preferred being a loner. He managed to get a job here in Peoria, Illinois at Commercial Solvents Company as a day laborer. In January of 1925 he incurred severe damage to his finger at work. They took Joe to the hospital and the next day they fired him. With $86.00 severance pay in his pocket, Joe bought some whisky and a small pearl- handed pistol. He didn’t need another job after that.

Ortiz lived in a tiny shack at the back of a friend’s lot within the Mexican Colony, which we now call Morton Square. When the weather was extremely cold, he made his way to the missions in town, drank his wine, and robbed people whenever he needed money. He lived more like an animal than a human, but he managed to survive.

On a warm March 12, 1925, he was cooking some fish over an open fire when he heard the voice of a young woman he had been spying on all winter. She lived just across the alley and the moment Joe saw her he claimed her as his own. Of course the young lady never even met Joe, let alone have any interest in him. Joe saw a young white man talking to her, and his alcoholic haze that was all he needed. He reached over and grabbed his gun and headed for the man that was trying to steal his one great love.

The man’s name was Virgil Hill and all he did was ask the beautiful Mexican girl, Eniliana Martinez, age seventeen, for directions. Virgil left the house not knowing that just behind him raced a crazed, jealous man intent on killing him. By the time young Hill heard footsteps it was too late. Joe Ortiz fired point blank into the young man’s face. Hill fell and rolled over on the ground presumably dead.

Smiling Joe Ortiz returned triumphantly to his ladylove expecting a hero’s welcome. What he got was a scathing condemnation. Ortiz looked at Miss Martinez in total disbelief. “Oh, You like the white man, huh?”

Ortiz then fired the .22 pistol striking Eniliana in the left arm, his second shot hit her in the right shoulder. Eniliana fell to the ground screaming as he fired a third and fourth shot into her neck and stomach. Ortiz raced to his shack where he hid his gun and was last seen running toward the river. Numerous people rushed up to the two victims, but they found that only Virgil Hill had survived.

Ed Van Sickle and Herman Truck took out after the killer and found him walking nonchalantly along the edge of the river. Together they attacked the man and took him into custody, holding him for the police. The local newspaper headlines told the horrid details as Ortiz was not only under arrest but held in protective custody. Detectives were able to take the statement of at least a dozen witnesses, and the local community was talking about hanging Joe Ortiz.

Mr. Pratt, our State’s Attorney met with Joe just once. In front of a court reporter and witnesses, Mr. Pratt got to the point. “Mr. Ortiz did you shoot and kill one Eniliana Martinez?” Joe sipped on his coffee. “Yes.” Mr. Pratt waited a moment then asked, “How many times did you shoot her?”
“Until the gun was empty.”

ORTIZ TO PLEAD INSANITY

That was the headline in the local newspapers revealing as well that the judge had set the trial for March 23, 1925. There was a massive crowd that chilly morning the trial of Joe Ortiz got underway. Mr. Ortiz had cleaned up well, and the scruffy bum looking man the witnesses had seen kill Miss Martinez had seemingly disappeared. The only chance Joe had, according to his two lawyers was to get the judge to disallow the confession.
However, that was not to be, and by the time Virgil Hill testified, Ortiz was on his way to the executioner’s rope.

On March 26, 1925 the evening headline told the story. PEORIA SLAYER GETS MUST HANG VERDICT.

On June 26, 1925, the folks in Peoria were ready to watch killer Joe Ortiz die by hanging in the Peoria County jail. To their utter disbelieve a reprieve was handed down. As the summer went on there were more hearings, more appeals but finally they all failed. Joe’s new date for his execution was set for April 15, 1926.

A PEORIA HANGING

By 9:00 A.M. The courthouse doors were locked and all the invited witnesses were surrounding the gallows on the third floor of the Peoria County Jail. At 9:45 A.M. Ortiz was led from the holding cell just a few yards from the gallows. Where was the sheriff? As witnesses crowded around, some of them now on the second floor, the sheriff had still not made his appearance. Finally at 10:11 A.M. the sheriff appeared and walked up to the gallows platform where the hangman, two deputies and Ortiz were waiting.

At 10:18 A.M. the trap door was sprung and a sickening snap was heard among the hushed crowd.

It was not until 10:23 A.M. that both physicians agreed that Jose’ Ortiz was officially dead.

Editor’ Note: Norm’s books are available in the Peoria Library. norman.kelly@sbcglobal.net

Next Month: Norm will take us back in Peoria’s history for another tale of murder in our hometown.

THE KILLING OF OFFICER HOEFER

2010-03-15T10:21:00.000-07:00

THE KILLING OF OFFICER HOEFER

By

NORMAN V. KELLY

For over two decades I have researched Peoria’s history, especially the seedy or bawdy side of my beloved hometown. I soon found that our history is driven by perpetual myth, half-truths and plain old bullshit handed down by our relatives and do-gooders. We have elements in town present and past that are simply ‘gangster fans,’ and we can thank them for a lot of phony information as well.

Personally I was immediately struck by how wonderfully organized Peoria was from the very beginning, and what a complete city we were way, way back in our history. After all, Peoria was not the only city that grew up along of the banks of the Illinois River, but we did it better than any other village, town or city. Of course our main ingredient for our phenomenal growth was booze and beer. The do-gooders tried to put a stop to that during Prohibition but their efforts failed. Truth is Peoria’s population increased more during that era than any other time in Peoria’s history.

This story of the murder of Special Police Officer Otto Hoefer took place in 1913. I thought that I would give you a brief idea what was going on here in town during that period of time. Our city was sixty-eight years old and as always was still on ‘the grow.’ Throughout our history we seemed to have attracted strong mayors, and the leaders of this great city worked hard to make life better for its citizens. It was now the era of Mayor Woodruff, who eventually would serve eleven terms for a total of twenty-four years. In between his terms we had a few weak mayors, but over-all they were strong leaders.

1913 found the greater Peoria area to have some 120,996 souls, with 89,429 of those folks within the city limits. We had 11 distilleries and one of them Clarke Brothers, said they were the largest distillery in the world. We also had at least 5 major breweries. Holt was here making a machine called the Caterpillar and Avery Company was making trucks and tractors. The railroads were huge here and life was good.

If you wanted a product Peoria was the place to come to shop. We also had theaters, live entertainment, 77 restaurants and plenty of hotels. Our downtown was a bustling, active place and people flocked here from all over the state and surrounding areas. Farmers had a ready market for everything they could grow or raise and they thrived. Friday and Saturday night in Peoria was the place to be and entertainment from moving pictures, vaudeville and other live entertainment played to packed houses. I read with great interest about all the businesses and products offered here in town…actually I marveled at it to tell you the truth.

Of course we had too many lawyers, 177 doctors and dentists, specializing in every kind of art known to mankind. Would you believe that we had at least 100 music teachers and 38 newspapers? Some weekly, or nothing more than newsletters, but they were here. We had 366 Notary Publics. Why? I was one myself at one time and I can tell you that I protected my seal with zeal. We had a dozen or so shoeshine parlors right downtown and 38 shoemakers. Well over a hundred churches, beautiful parks and waterways along with beautiful Grand View Drive and a river view that was breath taking indeed. About 10,000 kids were in school and Peoria was a proud, bawdy, lusty river town with a hometown flavor.

Want a cigar? We had dozens of retail places and 44 cigar makers in town. Gardeners… now who on earth would think we needed 78 gardeners in town? Hey, buddy need get a drink? Well in the city and vicinity we had 321 saloon, bars, taverns, dives, cabarets, call them what you might, we had them. Chickens, my God we had 155 poultry breeders and well over 400 grocery stores. Neighborhoods had virtually their own little shopping areas, and folks were kindly…friendly and loved their own ethnic foods.

Ninety percent of the folks here in Peoria in 1913 were born in America and we had a mix of all kinds of people. The folks here were hardworking, loyal Americans and they loved their old river city, believe me.

We had a lot of hotels downtown, some dumps, but a hotel like the Regis was absolutely regal. They boasted of a bath and telephone in every room, and steam heat provided comfort for the lucky guests. The story I am going to tell you centered around the Savoy Hotel at 310 Harrison Street. This hotel was owned by the Leisy Brothers Breweries in town and suffered a bit from its reputation. Local newspapers were quick to point out that “The Bridge Street and Harrison Street denizens frequented the place, and it was the center of criminal and prostitution activity.” You have to remember that in Peoria in this era, newspapers were extremely political and whatever administration was in power suffered the brunt of these attacks. By attacking the criminal element in town they indicated that the current administration was responsible for the crime. Woodruff was used to this and endured it over and over during his power days. And…so it was that Saturday morning there inside the Savoy Hotel on September 27, 1913. It was a little after eight in the morning when two old friends sat at the long bar in the hotel drinking champagne, laughing, arguing, kidding each other.

One of the men was William ‘Billy’ Schuster, the manager of the cabaret and bar area of the Savoy Hotel. He was also the manager of a place called Schuster’s over on Bridge Street. Leisy Brothers Breweries owned that place as well and employed Schuster as their manager of both places. Schuster was well known in town and the newspapers were quick to point to him as the man in charge of all the evilness that took place there around Bridge and Harrison Street. They offered no proof, but that never stopped them. After the murder I will tell you about two newspapers went on an all out frontal attack upon William Schuster until the clever coroner put them on the coroner’s jury.

By nine that morning the two men, one of whom was Special Police Officer Otto Hoefer, were pretty much intoxicated. Testimony would verify that but the witnesses insisted that both men knew what they were saying and doing.
By now the friendly arguments had given way to a few shouting matches, then friendly hugging, and then another eruption. Typical actions of intoxicated men would pretty much summarize their behavior.

What was Otto Hoefer doing there in the first place? Well, for starters he lived there. He’d moved into the Savoy Hotel in December of 1912 and was seen there at the hotel every day and knew virtually everyone in the downtown area. The bartender, Henry J. Lake stood behind the bar as far away from the two agitated men as he could once he’d served the third bottle of champagne to them. After all, Mr. Schuster was his boss, but he had no intention of mixing into their arguments. The other man was G.H. Coyner, a friend of both men, and a steady customer of the Savoy. He too shied away, giving knowing glances to Henry as the argument ebbed and flowed.

A little after nine a man that had stayed the night at the hotel, one B ‘Rosy’
Rosenthal, a dairyman was coming down the steps. He heard a ‘pop, like a cap pistol, then another and maybe two more.’ He stopped momentarily and walked on. Once downstairs he stepped into Schuster’s office to talk but found the place empty. A few moments later Mr. Lake and Mr. Schuster came inside and closed the door.
“Rosy, go in and see Hoefer, he had a gun in his hand.”
Before Mr. Rosenthal could utter a word, Schuster handed a .32 revolver to him. “Here, keep this.” The door closed and ‘Rosy’ was alone. He did not go in to see Hoefer, but did stick the gun in his pocket as he hurried out of the office to leave the hotel. Two officers stopped him, asked his name, and excused him. Mr. Rosenthal had business elsewhere and off he went with the murder weapon in his pocket. He did stop at a telephone before he raced off.

OTTO IS DEAD

Police were stationed outside the barroom as Detective Cash Darnell took charge of the murder scene. The lobby was filling up with the curious and one by one the local newspaper reporters shoved their way inside trying to get a look into the bar area. They questioned almost everyone they could get to but still had little or no information. Finally they got something to report as two officers came out of the bar area with William “Bill” Schuster between them. The crowd parted as the reporters shouted questions. The officers ignored the reporters, but Schuster said to one of them, “I can’t help my case by talking.” With that the crowd followed the officers and watched as they put their prisoner in the Black Maria and took off.

Coroner Elmer M. Eckard was the next big excitement as he got out of his black car and walked briskly through the crowd and into the bar area. There he met with and talked to the city detective as both men squatted to view the body of Officer Hoefer. Twenty minutes later the coroner prepared to leave when his attention was drawn to the double doors that had just been flung open. Coroner Eckard walked toward the man that had just been admitted.

“Is he gone, Elmer?”
“Yes, Henry, he died almost instantly.”

Henry Hoefer, the brother of the deceased man was no stranger to death and the coroner’s duties. He had been a partner in the Gauss mortuary and the Peoria County Coroner himself. Henry nodded and walked over to Hoefer. Henry kneeled down next to the body, putting his arm around the dead man’s shoulder. “I always feared something like this would happen…Otto would never let up.” He stood, the man that called me told me Schuster did the shooting is that true?” Detective Darnell answered. “It was him, Henry, he admitted it to me in front of two other officers. I had him arrested and got him out of here.” Henry nodded and looked around. He glanced at his brother’s revolver. “Did he get a shot off?”
“No, his gun’s fully loaded. Henry can you identify that billy club? Was that your brother’s?” Henry bent over and picked it up taking a rather long time before he placed it back on the floor. “No. Otto had a black jack, this one is nothing but steel covered with leather.”

THE INVESTIGATION

The Savoy Hotel was almost surrounded by the morbid curiosity seekers as the body of Officer Otto Hoefer was removed from the scene of his murder.
As the door of the black hearse was slammed shut people began to clear a path for the driver. Once the hearse left the people crowded back in together to stand again staring at the hotel entrance waiting for something…anything.

Inside Henry and the officers made their way up to Henry’s room. The place had been searched, no doubt about that. Carefully Henry went through all of Otto’s clothing in which he found a few dollar bills. “They were looking for something other than money,” he mumbled to Cash. “Did he carry a billfold, Henry?” He surely did and he had a small notebook that he was always writing in. He told me it contained the names of a lot of local crooks.” The two men searched thoroughly before they closed and sealed the door.
“Otto has a lock box over at the Home Savings, maybe his papers will tell us more.”

Detective Cash Darnell searched for two men that were said to have been an actual eyewitness to the shooting, and it was later in the afternoon when he finally took their statements. The two men stated without hesitation that Schuster had shot Hoefer but both men declared it was self-defense. Of course they were friends and employees of Schuster, but still, both men were precise and emphatic in their statements.

So before the day was out Detective Darnell and his men had pretty much wrapped up the investigation. The most irritating part of the entire investigation was one he knew he would be criticized for if he did not get to the bottom of it rather quickly. He knew the local newspapers and he dreaded the evening headlines. The truth is he had not found the weapon that Schuster had used to shoot Hoefer. He tried to talk to Schuster but was immediately turned away by State Senator John Daily, a very prominent attorney in town, and he knew that he would get no help from that end. He questioned everyone again and again about the gun and had done a thorough search, but still no gun. It was obvious to Darnell that someone had carried it off. It was also very obvious that there were sinister meanings to the search of Otto’s room. What were they looking for? Darnell felt it had something to do with Otto’s notebook…but what? The case appeared to be solved but there were many, many questions that had to be answered and he meant to do just exactly that. But first there would be the autopsy, the visitation, the funeral and the coroner’s inquest. He would see what he could develop from all that.

OFFICER HOEFER IS BURIED

Visitation was held at the Gauss Mortuary and for three hours there was a line moving steadily forward to pay its respects to Special Officer Otto Hoefer. The Reverend Doctor Carpenter of the First Universalist Church officiated. Many dignitaries attended and all of Hoefer’s friends milled about once they viewed the dead man’s remains. Outside they gathered and there was talk about revenging their old friend. Officers reported that there was talk of “some kind of mob action to take Schuster out of the detention hall in the city hall and lynch him.” As time went on the men gathered at a few local taverns and eventually they went home. The police were ever alert with additional guards on duty but the night passed peacefully enough.

The chief of police, Peoria’s treasurer and other city officials attended the funeral services. Eighteen rank and file officers were there as well as six officers who acted as pallbearers. Captain Gus Breymeir and Sgt. Gray were there and for all intents and purposes it appeared that the Peoria Police Department was burying one of its own, a police office that had been killed in the line of duty. It was noted that the usual floral arrangement offered by the police department was not among the many flowers. What did that mean? Also, as is customary when an officer is killed the black crepe paper that adorned the city hall was missing. So was he a police officer or not? Mayor Woodruff did not attend.

The next morning the mourners met at the railroad station and the six police pallbearers loaded the body of Otto on one of the freight cars and then boarded the train. The body was taken to Burlington, Iowa where it was buried in the family plot. The six police officers and some of the higher ranking officers boarded the train and escorted the body to Burlington where they also attended the funeral. Does that sound like a non-member of the police department to you? Also, listen to what Chief Rhodes has to say at the coroner’s inquest later in this story.

SO WHO WAS OTTO HOEFER?

The newspapers referred to Otto as a police officer, a special police officer and as a policeman. His occupation is listed as a policeman but was he really? I investigated this as thoroughly as possible and I can tell you that he was not ‘officially’ on the payroll of the City Of Peoria Police Department. Then what was he? I can tell you that he was one, a merchant policeman, two, he was a night watchman and three he was a bank guard for the Home Savings Bank in downtown Peoria, Illinois, and had been a law man for over twenty years.

Otto Hoefer’s father was the Peoria County Sheriff at one time and Otto himself ran on an independent ticket for sheriff once himself. He lost. At the time of his death he was preparing to go after his party’s nomination for sheriff and was seeking funds. He had moved to Peoria from Burlington in
1893, was married to Laura Spicknell who deserted him and ran off with another man in 1910. He had a large family but no children of his own. His brother Henry was at one time a coroner and was a prominent businessman in town, running the Gauss Mortuary.

Otto Hoefer was well known about town and always seemed to have money. He had a very special relationship with the police department, especially Chief Rhoades. In December 1912, Otto moved into a permanent room at the Savoy Hotel and there the mystery darkens. Many that knew him stated that he moved into the hotel to keep an eye on the criminal activities there and that he was doing it for the Peoria Police Department. The hotel had a pretty bad reputation and it was known as a fact that Otto talked to Chief Rhodes about the “criminals and thieves that were hanging about the hotel.” When we get to the inquests, I’ll show you what I mean. So that was the setting right after Special Officer Otto Hoefer’s funeral. The results of the autopsy and the preliminary investigation would be made public at the inquest.

STANDING ROOM ONLY

Over at the Peoria County Courthouse in the large Supervisor’s room the inquest over the body of Hoefer was held. Crowds formed early on and the press zeroed in on the event like it was a capital murder trial. For two days the local newspapers had attacked the Savoy Hotel and the criminal element there, which the newspapers said was led by William Schuster. The coroner read those newspapers and being a politician himself, he started his hearing off with a major surprise. He asked two of the editors and the dead man’s minister to be on the jury. By law these men were exempt because of their occupations, but they readily agreed to serve. Here are the men that were on that coroner’s jury:

Sam Shell, a miner, Ed Wissell, a barber, Doctor Carpenter, a minister, F. Dix, a journalist, F. Stowe, an editor and A. Gable, a local businessman.
The coroner knew that if the jury exonerated Schuster, the public could blame the jury…not him.

Deputies were ordered to close the doors leaving many folks out in the hallways listening to the open transoms. The coroner sat behind a small table next to a court reporter. The other two tables were crowded with George Shurtloff from the states attorney’s office, the sheriff, a secretary and at the other table was Henry Hoefer, attorney Nate Weiss and Harry Miller for the defense. Bill Schuster was not in attendance and would not be called as a witness.

The first witnesses were the three doctors that had performed the autopsy.
Dr. Burhans, Dr Major, and Dr. Weiss, a physician hired by Henry Hoefer to assist. Carefully Dr. Burhans pointed out the angle of the bullets that killed Hoefer, stating that the initial slug went into the dead man’s cheek striking the brain. Another two slugs tore into the lungs nicking the heart and liver. The doctor said that the first shot killed the officer and that the other two slugs were fired as he fell forward. A fourth slug was found in the wall.

Harry J. Lake the bartender, a reluctant witness at best, was called to the stand. He told the jury that Officer Hoefer and William Schuster had been drinking champagne since about eight in the morning. He had just served them the third bottle when the two men began to argue. Lake stated that they had argued before but in a more friendly nature. The arguments became more vocal and threats were made. Lake said he looked over and saw Hoefer pull his revolver and the next thing he heard were three or four shots. He told the jury that at that moment he raced from out from behind the bar and ran to the lobby. Next, G.H. Coyner, a friend of Schuster took the stand and pretty much verified what Lake said. Both witnesses stated that Hoefer had pulled his gun first and that Schuster shot in self-defense. Both admitted that they did not actually see the shooting. They heard the shots and ran like hell out of the bar.

Other minor witness testified as well as Henry Hoefer who told the personal story of his beloved brother, Otto Hoefer. The coroner declared a fifteen minute break announcing the next witness would be the chief of police. Most of the crowd stayed in their seats fearing the loss of their precious views. Once back in session Chief Rhodes took the stand.

The chief told the jury that on Friday he had talked to Otto Hoefer in front of city hall. “Otto told me that there were a few criminals hanging around the Savoy Hotel and that I should have them picked up.” The chief related that he had told Henry that he needed proof of that charge and pretty much dismissed the man. The chief stated that he got a call from Hoefer while he was working in his office. The chief said that Otto sounded like he was drunk. “Otto asked me if I had told anyone about the talk we had on the street and I told him no. He then said he wanted me to talk to Bill Schuster and I waited for him to come on the phone. I waited about three minutes but he never took the phone. I hung up,”

Dr. Carpenter: “Chief, does this Savoy Hotel stay open all night?”

Chief: “I don’t know anything about the place and have never been in there
and am unfamiliar with its conduct.”

Juror: Why did Hoefer call you?”

Chief: “He was at the Savoy with Schuster and he wanted me to tell Schuster that he did NOT tell me that there were criminals hanging around there. I did not want to get him in trouble so I as willing to tell Schuster that Otto did not mention criminals and the Savoy to me.”

Juror: “You didn’t get to tell Schuster that because he did not come to the phone…is that right?”

Chief: “Yes. I was rather vexed to have Otto tell me that and him having authority and not doing his duty.” I Said to him, ‘you are a police officer with authority. Why do you not send them in?”

After a few more questions the chief was excused. The door to the room was opened and a man dressed in bib overalls was led in by a deputy. The coroner motioned him forward to take a seat. Many people recognized C.E. “Rosy” Rosenthal, and his silly garb caused some laughter. With a dramatic flair “Rosy” handed a revolver to the coroner and then took a seat.

The witness explained how he happened to be in possession of the gun. The jury was interested in why he hadn’t turned it in before and the witness calmly said, “I was busy.”

Coroner: “ Why did Schuster give you the gun?”

Rosenthal: “Because I was there I guess, When he handed it to me he said ‘I just shot Hoefer.’”

The next witness was Detective Cash Darnell who launched into his investigation bringing the jury up to date. He told the jury he was perplexed over the missing gun and was relieved that it was now in the hands of the authorities.

Caprenter: “Why did you arrest Schuster?”

Cash: “Because he told me that he had shot Hoefer.”

Carpenter: “ Was there any information to indicate Hoefer had pulled his Billy club?”

Cash: “It was there at his side, but his brother, Henry Hoefer said that that was not his Billy club.”

There was some discussion, a delay, and then a merchant policeman who had been friends with Otto for years took the stand. His name was H.G. Pearson.

Coroner: Mr. Pearson you have known Otto Hoefer for many years?”

Pearson: “Yes I worked with him and knew him very well.”

Coroner: “You have a Billy club in your hand, have you seen that club before?”

Pearson: “Yes, sir, this club belonged to Officer Otto Hoefer.”

After a few more questions Pearson left the stand and Detective Cash Darnell resumed his seat.

Coroner: You searched Mr. Hoefer’s room is that right?”

Cash: “I did. His brother and a couple of my officers were with me.” He then went on to tell the jury that the room had been searched and that according to Henry some personal things including a notebook and the victim’s wallet were missing. That caused a lot of questioning and conjecture as the detective seemed to be hesitating in his answers. Finally he explained that some of the investigation was still pending and that he would rather not reveal some of his findings.

The Coroner called back to the stand Henry Hoefer. Henry was asked about the billfold and other personal things that had come up missing.

Coroner: “I understand that Otto had a safety deposit box over at the Home Savings, is that right Henry?

Henry: “He did, Mr. Coroner, and I am very anxious to get into it. I know for a fact that Otto kept a lot of notes on criminal activity and I hope to discover that notebook.”

That caught the newspapermen’s ears and the next day the talk surrounded the bank deposit box and that little notebook. Henry assured the press that that is why his brother’s room was searched. He also feared publicly that someone had already taken the notebook and the rest of his brother’s notes. He told the press that his brother always carried a lot of cash and that was probably gone with the missing billfold.

THE JURY REACHES A DECISION

By four o’clock the coroner had pretty much exhausted his moments in the spotlight and charged the jury. It took a little over an hour, which included a late lunch for the jurors before the six men reached a decision. Folks in town knew that no jury was going to come in unless they had their coffee or their lunch, so it was no surprise to Peorians that the verdict took some time. Folks about town also knew that William Schuster had some influential friends, and it would not surprise them if they let him off completely. Talk was that from the tone of the cops that had testified, especially the chief, letting him off on self-defense would be just about what they would expect. Of course, this was not the murder trial, so they all took a wait and see attitude.

Once the word spread, the press was in their seats, the coroner looked around and nodded. The deputies closed the doors.

“Mr. Foreman, I understand that you have reached a verdict in the inquest over the body of Otto Hoefer.”

“We have Mr. Coroner.”
“Please read it for the record.”

“Otto Hoefer came to his death in the barroom of the Savoy Hotel
about the hour of 9:20 am, September 27, 1913 from wounds caused by bullets fired from a revolver in the hands of William ‘Bill’ Schuster.”
The verdict was signed by the foreman Dan Sholl.

That was it. The coroner called this an ‘open verdict.’ Folks in Peoria in 1913 called it ‘passing the buck.’ Today I suppose we would call it a cop out. Here these two hot shot newspapermen who had been ripping Schuster, the hotel and the police had a chance to do something themselves. What did they do? Well, their verdict meant that it was up to the state’s attorney to decide to prosecute or not. It was that simple.

Of course Henry Hoefer was outraged and he let them know it too. He then went to his own lawyer, they met with the state’s attorney and they let it be known that Henry would sign the murder warrant if the SA felt queasy as well. The ball was in another politician’s court.

WHAT’S IN THE BOX?

It was Henry Hoefer that was getting all the attention the next couple of days. He assured the press that the answers were in his brother’s deposit box. Henry boasted that as soon as he was named the administrator of his brother’s estate he would show the world that Otto did have evidence of criminal activity not only at the Savoy but other areas of downtown as well.

Mayor Woodruff had ordered the closing of the bar area of the Savoy and revoked the liquor license of Bill Schuster. That afternoon he accepted the Leisy Brother’s replacement of Schuster and asked that the bar area be allowed to reopen. Woodruff, acting as the liquor commissioner, but always the mayor, agreed. A man from Chicago who had been an assistant bar manager here in Peoria, Illinois, Frank Brown would now run both of Leisy’s places, The Savoy and Schusters.

Secrets Of The Underworld To Be Revealed? That was the small headline the local newspapers ran in various themes. Of course they were referring to the safety deposit box that had Peoria talking. Henry was now the administrator and when the box was opened it was a big let down. I guess we could relate it to that TV show of Al Capone’s empty vault. So that entire theme was quickly forgotten about. Henry was wrong about the Billy club, the safety box, perhaps he was wrong about the missing notebook as well.
The estate of Otto Hoefer was evaluated at the whopping sum of $500.00.
Peorian laughed at this figure since they were hoping for a massive fortune and exciting revelations in his papers. What they got was a big fat zero.

Henry, still milking the limelight stated, “There were personal papers in the box and their content will be revealed at the trial.” So the folks in town were getting a bit weary of this story and they also asked this question, ‘what trial?’

About the only change from all the hubbub was a new law on the books. It stated that from now on the woman that worked in these cabarets would now have to stay up on the stage. No more dancing through the crowds. Just a bit of a victory for the do-gooders, other than that it was business as usual.

SCHUSTER IS FREE

So since the inquest Bill’s lawyers were demanding a bond hearing or better yet a hearing on freeing their client. The state’s attorney was being urged to act as well, and there was tension in city hall. One afternoon the Leisy Brother’s put up a $5,000 bond and William “Bill” Schuster admitted slayer of Special Officer Otto Hoefer was released. He was not able to go back to his old jobs, but he was free.

The Harold-Transcript summed up the total of the events just in case the local folk missed anything. The editor stated that both men, Officer Hoefer and William Schuster were “disgracefully drunk.” The article went on to say that as far as the investigation has gone, the facts appear simple. Both men argued, they were intoxicated and Hoefer apparently went to attack Schuster and Schuster shot him. “The rest of the reams of paper written about these two has nothing to do with the facts. Now it is up to State’s Attorney McNemar to proceed. Henry Hoefer has already said he will sign the warrant and that is where the case is presently.”

SCHUSTER HELD FOR MURDER

There it was November 21, 1913 and the folks in Peoria read in all the local newspapers that Schuster was again behind bars. However, before the next day’s paper hit the curbs, Schuster was out on a $25,000.00 bond.
Mr. Edward C. Leisy and Peter Weast had signed the bond, which in the eyes of the court was as good as gold. So it looked like Peoria would have its murder trial and maybe another hanging?

Interest in the murder of Otto Hoeffer soared there for a week or so, but soon folks had their own lives to lead and except for family and close friends of Otto’s the entire matter had been forgotten. The killer was out on bond and most people assumed his lawyers would work something out and he end up with a slap on the wrist at most. Christmas came and went and the New Year rolled around. Then, suddenly there it was, the trial of William Schuster was scheduled for January 24, 1914. The trial calendar listed case #1720, The People vs William Schuster in Capital Court for the charge of murder. Now, finally, folks thought that Otto Hoefer would get some justice.

For the defense were Harry Miller and John Dailey, very competent lawyers indeed. Two assistants Scholes and Pratt would prosecute along with the state’s attorney himself. The sheriff’s office was busy serving the subpoenas and the newspapers were busy drumming up publicity. Three physicians, Major, Weil and Burhans, along with Rosengrant and Rosenthal were the first men served. Coyner, Wyman, Brown, and all the police officers that were involved in the case were next. The chief was also served along with Harry Lake and Henry Hoefer. So with everyone served, the jury was notified to appear and on January 24, 1914, with standing room only, the judge called his court to order and the long, tedious task of picking a jury began. Before lunch on January 26, 1914, the judge has his twelve jurors and right after lunch the opening arguments began. The murder trial of William “Bill” Schuster was underway. Most court observers felt that since the man admitted he shot Hoefer that the jury would certainly find him guilty of either murder in the first degree or at the least manslaughter.

Joe Weil took his seat at the defense table, remember him, he was the lawyer that Henry Hoefer hired to look after “the family’s interests.” He was planning on also making a closing statement on behalf of Otto Hoefer. The opening arguments were rather brief and the People opened its case by calling the physicians. Detail after detail of the autopsy, angle of bullets, blood loss and instant death were examined satisfying even the most ghoulish of the spectators. The cross examination of the physicians took up most of the morning.

A verbal battle broke out when the assistant state’s attorney presented a small envelope containing the three slugs that were dug out of the body of Otto Hoefer. The jury had to be taken out of the courtroom, but eventually all three slugs were marked as exhibits and admitted. The jury could look at them all they wanted. Strange, but not one woman was in the audience for this first day of trial.

Anyone who watches TV knows that there are little or no surprises in a murder trial. However, on the second day after a major battle, the judge allowed a ‘surprise witness’ to testify. His name was Chicago Jack Daly, a prize fighter from Chicago, Illinois. The defense objected a dozen times before his testimony was finally admitted. He told the jury that he knew for a fact that Hoefer hated Schuster and that in 1909 he saw Hoefer fire his pistol at Schuster, twice as a matter of fact.
“ I heard Otto say, ‘I will blow that Dutchman’s head off.’ “
That was sensational stuff, no wonder the defense went berserk, huh?

MORE OBJECTIONS

After A break things calmed down, well that is until the deceased man’s clothing was brought into the courtroom. Even before the State said one word the defense team was swarming over the bench. Again out went the jury and again Judge Worthington allowed the State to admit the clothing. Twenty-four times the defense objected and when the under clothing was presented even the judge stopped the proceedings. He later ruled that he admitted the clothing to show the bullet’s entry and that the jury would not be allowed to see the clothing in the jury room.

The other witnesses I mentioned before. Each and every one of them took the stand and pretty much testified as they did in the coroner’s inquest.
Rosy Rosenthal, the man that had been handed the murder weapon was probably the most interesting witness and he was drilled in cross-examination. Five witnesses stated that they had heard Hoefer threaten Schuster and things were not going well for the prosecution. To the surprise of no one, Schuster was going to testify on his behalf. The defense was anxious to get at this man, and the excitement among the jury and the spectators took a higher level.

SCHUSTER IS THE STAR

Calmly, almost nonchalantly William Schuster took the stand. Well-dressed, confident, he smiled at the jury as his lawyer gently took him through some of his life here in Peoria. Glancing at his lawyer, then at the jury, Schuster answered the questions put to him in a sincere and friendly manner. He told the jury of his relationship with Hoefer and stated that he held no grudges against the officer. He had allowed him to stay at the hotel, and that he considered Hoefer his friend. He stated that he was a bit afraid of him, and affirmed the 1909 shooting. He told the jury that he “had no choice,” but to fire his weapon because Hofer was going to kill him. It was dramatic indeed and his testimony kept the attention of both spectator and jury. The defense scribbled notes throughout the examination and appeared anxious to attack the witness on cross.

And…attack they did. For three hours they pounded away at him, but in the end the message was pretty much the same. William Schuster had shot and killed Special Officer Otto Hoefer in self-defense.

Once Schuster left the stand the case was virtually over. A few more unimportant witnesses were presented and both sides rested. The closing arguments were next and then the instructions to the jury and the fate of Schuster would be in the hands of the jury. It was an exhausting day and the spectators had a lot to tell the folks at home as they walked out of the courtroom.

CLOSING ARGUMENTS

States Attorney McNemar stood and walked up to a narrow podium and stood. The judge glanced around then banged his gavel once. “ Ready Mr. Prosecutor?” “Ready your honor.” The SA launched into what he felt the State had proved over the last few days. He summarized by saying that the murder of Otto Hoefer was a “cold-blooded murder, not self-defense.”
He did a magnificent job of telling the jury that Schuster should be held accountable and stated that the State was seeking the death penalty. “Special Officer Hoefer walked the streets of Peoria for twenty-six years as a police officer. This case demands the death penalty.”

Next was the closing argument of the defense. This was always an exciting time in a trial, but this crowd was in for a surprise. Mr. Harry Miller rose and walked over to the jury. “Your honor, the defense will present the case to the jury on its merits. We waive the right to a closing argument.”
With that Mr. Miller glanced over at Mr. Weil, Henry’s attorney and gave him a quick smile. It was obvious to insiders that the last thing the defense wanted was to have the jury hear what Mr. Weil had to say. There was a murmur among the folks in the courtroom, which the judge quickly stifled. Hell…the case was over.

THE VERDICT

There were eight inches of snow on the ground when the jury notified the bailiff that they had reached a verdict. A small group of people managed to get back to the courthouse, and not all of the defense or the prosecuting teams made it. The judge called his court to order and inquired of the foreman if the jury had reached a verdict.

“We have your honor.”
“Please read the jury’s verdict.”

“We the jury find the defendant William Schuster
NOT GUITLY.”

Schuster banged his hand on the desk then patted his lawyer’s shoulder as he rose to thank the jury. The judge warned him not to go near them until they left the box. He then shook hands, smiled as he walked over to get his coat. His wife raced up to him and the couple embraced.

Over at the jail, Schuster was cheered by the fifty prisoners behind bars as he yelled good-bye to them. A car met him out in front of the courthouse and accused killer Bill Schuster went home. That night hundreds of well-wishers had a huge party there at the Savoy Hotel. Special Officer Otto Hoefer would have loved to have attended that party because he rarely missed one that was held downtown. Unfortunately Otto was still in his grave.

SOME QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED

Was Otto Hoefer a police officer? He certainly was if we believe what the state’s attorney said in court. The SA reminded the jury that Hoefer had ‘walked the streets of Peoria for twenty-six years as a loyal, honest police officer.’ Why did Hoefer call the chief of police about the criminal element at the Savoy? Did the chief ‘assign’ him the duty of investigating those criminals? Remember what Chief Rhodes said ‘he was vexed over the thought that Hoefer did not use his authority as a police officer to bring in those suspected criminals.’ Two major officials in law enforcement, right here in the City of Peoria, said the man was a police officer.

Look at the funeral…hell a lot of cops were there and six of them acted as pallbearers and even went to Iowa for the funeral. He was buried in his dress blue uniform of a police officer, with police honors.

So what do you think? Was he a police officer? Did he deserve to be honored as an officer that had died in the line of duty? Should his name be engraved on the police monument here in Peoria, Illinois? If he deserves that then his name should be on the Illinois State Police Monument in Springfield, Illinois and on the National Police Monument in Washington, D.C. Our new police chief, echoing his predecessors tells the public at memorial services, that “These fallen officers will never be forgotten.”
Well, I proved that five of our officers who had died in the line of duty were forgotten. Their names have now been engraved on all three monuments. Does Officer Otto Hoefer deserve to be honored in the same manner?
Norman.kelly@sbcglobal.net 309-692=6587 Box 1282 61654-1282

The Ambush of Tony Miller

2010-03-15T10:18:00.000-07:00

THE AMBUSH OF TONY MILLER

NORMAN V. KELLY

Anton ‘Tony’ Miller was just an ordinary guy, like so many other folks living here in good old Peoria, Illinois during 1939. Life was pretty good, especially for those folks that survived the Great Depression, Prohibition and joblessness. Tony was a locksmith and finally had his own business. There was never a word written about him in the local newspapers until that little incident in 1935 when police ended up shooting Tony in the leg over what they said was a case of mistaken identity. Tony sued the city, and managed to settle out of court. Tony slipped back into oblivion and got on with his life.

Tony popped up again in early 1938 when he began to write letters to the local editors concerning gambling and crime in Peoria. He wrote the attorney general, spoke out at church rallies and harangued the alderman during the Tuesday night meetings in City Hall. He appeared to be some kind of crusader against all that was bad in Peoria, Illinois. To some he sounded like a crackpot to others he was just a good citizen. Which was he?

As I mentioned Tony was a locksmith and as he became better known in town through the publicity he got taking on the gamblers and the hoodlums in town, his business grew. But, like so many folks that spoke out against certain things sometimes they forgot that the opposition was also listening.

Truth is, as Peorians found out later Tony most certainly did not want gambling to cease in town. It wasn’t because Tony was a gambler for he most certainly was not. He did however make a lot of money off the slot machines and I’ll tell you how he did that later on in the story. I guess the truth was that he was gambling, but the stakes were a lot higher than a few dollars. History showed that Tony Miller put his very life on the line…and he lost.

ANTON GOES DOWN

It was a very cold, snowy evening that January 1939 when Tony closed his shop early and headed home. He lived in a two-story home on Madison Avenue less than a mile from his shop. He got out of the car, gathered his tool bag up and headed for the rear door of his house that led into the kitchen. Suddenly very bright car lights were shining on him. Tony froze like a terrified deer. He wanted to run, but instead he turned toward the lights, his right hand shielding his eyes at he stared.

“Yeah, who is it?”
Tony could hear the engine of the car as he looked at it. Suddenly two powerful blasts from a twelve-gauge shotgun thundered out between the houses. Instantly Tony was knocked backwards off his feet onto his back.
Somehow Miller managed to first crawl and then began staggering toward the rear door that was now open. Anton’s terrified wife stood there screaming at the top of her lungs.

The big gun sounded one more time as Tony reached the small stoop at the rear of the door. His wife, Rose, and the three kids ran away from the door as Tony stumbled in. He fell half in and half out of the kitchen door.

Rose raced to him cradling her husband’s head on her lap. “Tony! Tony!” she screamed. Anton lay trying to focus his eyes on his wife.
“I think the gambler’s finally got me,” he said.

THE AFTERMATH

Police went after the usual suspects, and even Attorney General John Cassidy sent in investigators to get to the bottom of not only Miller’s murder, but the out-of-control gambling in Peoria as well. What the investigators found out and made public was the dark side of Anton Miller’s life. They reported that Tony, the locksmith, used his skills to make master keys for some of the hundreds of slot machines being used in Peoria, Illinois and the county. Tony sold those keys for twenty-five dollars. Of course that took money from the slot machine syndicate in Peoria and that was a dangerous activity.

A lot of the customers for Tony’s keys were the tavern owners themselves
Giving them access to the coin containers in the slots that they ‘leased’ from the owners. When the syndicate noticed a drop off in their profits it did not bode well for Mr. Miller. As I mentioned Tony did not gamble himself, instead he jeopardized his very life. The slot machine owners must have decided that Tony was the culprit with or without evidence. Of course in those day, they were the judge, jury and executioner so Tony Miller died, the message was received and life went on. Honest folks, it was just that simple.

Throughout our history Peoria always had a form of gambling even back before The Civil War. Once the Roaring Twenties came to town along with Prohibition gambling grew. By the time the thirties came and Prohibition ended, gambling thrived. During the war years here in Peoria gambling was king, and remained that way until early September of 1946. Tony Miller was just one of a hundred stories about that era.

Editor’s Note: Norm is a local historian and author of eight books on Peoria’s bawdy history.

Next Month: Norm will peel back the pages of time for another story from Peoria’s past.
Comments welcome: norman.kelly@sbcglobal.net

The Loss Of Miss Constance

2010-03-15T10:14:00.000-07:00

THE LOSS OF MISS CONSTANCE

Norman V. Kelly

It was 1928 in Peoria, Illinois and Bradley Polytech Institute was going strong, or was it a college by then? Frankly the average Peorian didn’t know the difference, but they were still proud of the place just the same. Prohibition was basically ignored here by 1928 and the Roaring Twenties were winding down. The Great Depression was coming down the pike, but here in Peoria, things were going very well. The head of the English Department at Bradley was a forty-three year old woman named Jennie Meta Constance with ten years of teaching experience. Jennie was a bright, well-liked teacher who was very active in our community and an inspiration to her friends and students.

On that fateful evening of August 28, 1928, Miss Constance was spending her summer up at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois doing work on her advanced degree in English Literature. Right around 9:30 P.M. she said good night to her three friends and left the library for her apartment.
Miss Jennie Constance never made it home.

Early that next morning a milkman made the grisly discovery of her body half concealed within a high hedge surrounding the mansion of George Peak. Detectives discovered that some of her clothing had been ripped from her body and a brutal wound to the head apparently caused her death. They also found the murder weapon which was a large steel pipe wrapped with a white, blood-stained rag around one end of it. They followed a trail of bits of clothing during which they found the victim’s library card, pieces of her jewelry and her empty purse.

LOCAL HEADLINES

Here in Peoria local newspapers brought the horrific news in the form of headlines and follow-up stories as reporters and Bradley faculty headed for
Evanston, Illinois in disbelief. The Evanston police rounded up the usual suspects and daily our local papers kept us abreast of these new suspects. Everyday Peorians hoped and expected to read that the real killer had been arrested. What they did not expect was this headline here in Peoria:

NEW CONSTANCE DIFFERENCE WITH TEACHERS SEEN AS CAUSE OF MURDER.

As folks read this article their temperatures rose. The Evanston Police were telling the people here in Peoria and Evanston that Miss Constance was killed because of arguments with three members of the Bradley faculty. I hope you can imagine the impact that had here in town and the uproar that idiotic theory caused. The letters and telephone calls led by Dean Wykoff to that police department were numerous and boisterous to say the least.
The buzz of that ridiculous accusation had not yet quieted down when Peoria was elated over the next headline here in Peoria, Illinois.

CONSTANCE SLAYER HELD FOR JURY

Peoria reporters wrote that police had taken their suspect, David Shanks, a shoeshine employee working in Evanston, Illinois back to the scene of the crime where he confessed that he had murdered Miss Constance during a robbery. He told police he had hidden in the shadows with the steel pipe waiting for a victim. Of course, it could have been anyone, but it turned out to be Bradley’s own Jennie M. Constance.

Perhaps after the folks in Peoria chastised the Evanston detectives they decided to do some serious police work. As a result, they traced Jennie’s watch to a young man named Lee Bart Bastion. He told the police that he had purchased the watch for $1.17 from David Shanks. Bastion then took the watch to a jeweler to have the initials J.M.C. removed from it. The jeweler called police and Lee Bastion was immediately arrested. That led to the arrest and confession by Shanks that he had murdered and robbed Miss Constance. Police also arrested a man at a cleaning establishment when they learned hat he had cleaned the blood off of Shanks’ clothing and did not report the incident to police.

Detectives not only solved the murder of Miss Constance, they connected their suspect, David Shanks to at least two other murders around the Northwestern Campus and numerous robberies. David Shanks was eventually sentenced to life in prison, and I for one hope he died there.

Jennie Meta Constance was an outstanding educator and the City of Peoria mourned her senseless and untimely death. Officials over at Bradley named a woman’s dormitory building after Miss Constance in her memory. Her name is still honored on the Bradley University campus to this very day.
So, Miss Constance never made it back to her beloved Bradley Polytech in Peoria, Illinois. She was buried back home in Cumberland, Wisconsin. The next time you are on the campus of Bradley University I hope you give a thought to Jennie, she was a keeper.

Editor’s note: Go to www.peorialibrary.org find Let’s Talk Peoria History for more stories.

The Loss Of Miss Constance

2010-01-18T10:00:00.000-08:00

1918: It's Over Over There

2009-12-21T14:31:00.000-08:00

1918: IT’S OVER OVER THERE

NORMAN V. KELLY

It was a glorious day here in Peoria, Illinois when news that the War To End All Wars was finally over. Our local boys marched off to war after the United States declared war on Germany that bleak day of April 6, 1917. Peoria city and county sent 5,500 of our finest men to ‘Fight the Hun,’ and now they would be coming home. Sadly not all of them returned since 211 were killed fighting for freedom.

It was 1:52 A.M. November 11, 1918 when the local newsrooms first received the incredible news. They were skeptical since THE STAR printed prematurely that the war had ended a few days earlier. It was a hoax and the newspaper owners apologized and sent a check for $375.00 to the local Red Cross. Was it true this time?

Indeed it was and as the newsmen called home the word spread all over the city. Even before dawn Peorians were milling about the city hall and the courthouse greeting folks with hugs and handshakes. As soon as the streetcars began running people came by the hundreds. Most of them had something to ring, bang on or honk. A few of the stores were inundated as folks came in looking for noisemakers.

There was pandemonium in the streets within an hour and more and more people flocked downtown. They walked, they ran, they rode anything that had wheels to Downtown Peoria. Long parades snaked through the streets with folks holding hands and yelling at the top of their lungs. Organized bands from all over met downtown, formed up and went marching off with patriotic music filling the entire downtown area. Excited revelers fell in behind them in joyous celebration as the throngs of people grew.

At 7:30 in the morning the mayor opened up the city hall and had a proclamation tacked to the front door. He ordered all taverns and stores to close by noon and requested that all Peorians come on downtown. The streets were now jammed packed with cars stopped on every street. Folks climbed on them banging on the roofs and honking horns. The military bands were now in full swing as the merriment reached its peak. Right at noon every church anywhere near the downtown area began to ring their bells, as marchers yelled even louder, banging on garbage cans, toy drums and whatever else they could find. From the taller buildings downtown folks threw everything they could get their hands on down upon the delighted folks walking below.

Many folks surrounded the churches joining hands, bowing their heads in thanks for the glorious peace they were celebrating. Of course no politician in his right mind was going to pass up this opportunity to speak. At the courthouse Woodruff spoke and invited everyone to attend the parties at the Coliseum and the Shrine Mosque. Finally as they day wore on folks began to make their way to these places, mainly to find a place to sit down.

As the older people headed to the Shrine and the Coliseum the younger ones, some fueled by alcohol, continued the frenzy in the street.
Still, it was a happy crowd, and police reported very few incidents that needed their control. Around midnight, the scene of the wild demonstration was pretty desolate. The wind blew the confetti and toilet paper around the empty streets of Downtown Peoria, Illinois. World War 1 was over and Peoria was looking forward to getting its sons back home.

What was coming down the pike for Peoria was the closing of its breweries, distilleries, saloons and taverns. But that’s another story for another day.

My Home In El Vista

2009-12-20T10:00:00.000-08:00

My Home In El Vista

2009-12-20T07:10:00.000-08:00

PEORIA, ILLINOIS: 1921 AND 1922

Norman V. Kelly

People like to talk about and listen to stories of the Roaring Twenties here in Peoria, Illinois. Truth is they are really interested in booze, speakeasies, gangsters, flappers and our wild nightlife. After all, I guess Roaring Twenties has to have something to do with booze and getting illegally drunk…you think?

I have written a lot of those stories and I can tell you they are fun to think about. Truth is, that here in Peoria during the 13 years of actual Prohibition, we were a lot tamer as a city than most people realize. Don’t get me wrong, this was the hot spot to be, don’t ever doubt that.

I think the biggest myth that I have heard over the past 28 years that I researched Peoria history were the stories about speakeasies. You see the truth is we didn’t even have any here in town. I can hear the readers of this article calling me an uninformed fool…and a lot worse I am sure. The fact is that those readers that know all about speakeasies here in town got all that information from their father’s and grandfathers. Truth is…our dad’s and grandpas were supposed to tell us stories…and they did. How many folks living here today were alive in 1920 and old enough to even know what rotgut whiskey or bootlegging was let along have knowledge of a speakeasy? Truth is what the average ‘oldster’ knows about speakeasies he or she learned watching the movies. I did it the hard and tedious way…by researching the printed word. Remember I am talking about Peoria, Illinois…understand that. My point being if you were twenty in 1920 I have this sneaky suspicion that you have checked off this mortal coil by now. That is, of course, unless you can still tell us lies at age 109.

Actually Prohibition in Peoria began in September of 1917 here in Peoria when the Lever Act shut down all of our distilleries and breweries. This phony Conservation Act, perpetrated by the Temperance people led by Wayne Birdwell Wheeler cost this town a ton of jobs. The ACT forbid the use of foodstuffs to make alcoholic products…it was that simple. It was all phony because when WW1 began in April of 1917, we did not need to conserve. America’s farmers could easily feed America and its troops, but that did not stop the DRYS. We lost those distilleries and breweries but at least the taverns stayed open…that is until January 16, 1920.

I have pretty much covered the effect of Prohibition in other stories so I thought that I would just fill you in on what it was like here during the first two years of Prohibition. Maybe some statistics are boring, but remember this is your town, and believe me the folks here, some of them your relatives, were far from being bored, I can tell you that.

THE DAWN OF 1920

Peoria is now at the ripe old age of seventy-five, a sturdy, growing young lady to say the least. Our population was 76,121 souls by then and we had a bustling, extremely busy downtown area that encompassed a massive nine square miles. Think of that, only nine square miles. To the east of us was Averyville just a small town of its own with 5,000 citizens all wanting to stay out of the Peoria city limits. A vicious battle, both legal and illegal finally brought them under our rule by 1927, ratified by the Illinois Supreme Court in 1926. Across the river was East Peoria and they sure as hell did not want to ‘Come join us.’ To the west was proud Bartonville, and just northwest of us was independent West Peoria. Up north of us was the Village of Peoria Heights, and they, like all the rest did not want to be part of our city limits.

AND SO WE GREW

Sure our mayors and our aldermen wanted Peoria to expand, and they tried like hell to get the job done. But…in the end we grew a bit up to 9.3 square miles within the city limits, but only slowly did we expand our limits. Never I might add did we get any of those villages I mentioned except Averyville. Still our downtown grew with leaps and bounds and made us into a ‘Gem on the prairie,” and a “Pearl along the Illinois River.”

Not to worry, Peoria was a strong-minded little town and irrespective of our space limitations we decided to grow anyway…and that is what we did. Jobs and more jobs is the secret to any town’s success and thankfully for us, the war presented an opportunity for a lot of jobs here in town. Even though initially we lost the brewery jobs and the jobs connected with the taverns. However we had well over 200 small manufacturing companies in town that produced almost 1000 different products. Many of those companies began making wartime products from tractors to gloves, and those men that needed a job found one.

Once the war began and our 5,500 men went off to ‘Fight the Hun,’ an awful lot of other men and their families moved into Peoria. That helped our growth and during the first ten years of Prohibition just over 18,000 people moved within our city limits. Of course our county grew as well, swelling our ranks within a ten-mile area to just over 105,000 people. Wow…from a little trading village to that number of folks was indeed amazing indeed.

MANY FACTORS

Of course we can trace our growth to booze and beer, but the fact that we lived in marvelous farming country cannot be underplayed. Truth is farming is just not much fun to read about. Our stockyards grew as a result of our railroads, and the fourteen train companies that served this city round the clock help this city immensely. Our truck terminals, auto producers, and bike manufacturers also played a major part in our growth. Our incredible boat landing areas served us since 1845 and once the paddle wheels gave way to barges, the growth increased. All of this was in full swing in 1920 only to grow as the decade raced on.

Most people want me to talk about gangsters and prostitutes, which were certainly part of our history as was gambling. In 1920 gambling really took hold here and by the end of the Roaring Twenties it was deeply entrenched in our downtown life. It continued to grow reaching its peak during WW11. Every year the number of taverns grew but came to a screeching halt that miserable day, January 16, 1920 when the dark cloud of Prohibition raced over our forty-eight states. It was a dubious gift from the religious folks that were convinced that the root of all evil was alcohol. What resulted was thirteen years of the most vicious, dangerous, violent era ever know to the United States, excluding our Civil War, of course.

IT’S NOT ALL BAWDY

Ask anyone that is at least seventy that lived in Peoria or say within 50 miles or so what they thought of Peoria in the 40’s. Go ahead ask them, truth is you would really have to be at least eighty today to have experienced this town’s nightlife .But…that would not stop the younger ones from telling you handed down stories of Peoria’s gambling, gangster and bawdy past. Think of it, I was born in 1932, making me all of nine when the war broke out. Now how much do you think I really know or knew about what when on downtown dduring the war. Get my meaning. For twenty-eight years I interviwed aat least a hundred ‘older folks,’ and from them I got the real answers. After that I started in 1846 simply reading every printed word about our town. As for the crimes and murders I also read police reports, coroner’s reports and of course the newspaper articles. Even at that, I am only as accurate as the information I gathered. Take a person who is repeating a story from his or her dad or grandfather…which is apt to be more accurate?

My point is Peoria’s reputation today is nothing but silly stories passed on by a lot of folks that believe what they were told. I found a red line of truth in most of the stories but most of them were just perpetuated myths. Oh, they were entertaining but most of it was just gossip. Always…I might add, about murders, gambling and gangsters. As to our real history…nobody talked about it, that’s where we so-called historians come in…well, some of us.

A SUMMATION OF MURDER

2009-11-29T14:28:00.000-08:00

A SUMMATION OF MURDER
Norman V. Kelly

All the people that tell you about gangsters in Peoria are just repeating stories they heard. Not one of them that I met ever did any serious research. The authors that wrote about our big gangster reputation were even less accurate than the mythmakers. To me a gangster is within the Al Capone ilk. Now he and his henchmen and gun-toting enemies were real gangsters. We who lived here in Peoria, Illinois during 1941-1948 had our pet gangster…Bernie Shelton. If you recall gangsters actually killed people. We had a few ‘gangland style killings’ here but most of Peoria’s murders were domestic, tavern killings or murders during a botched robbery perpetrated by a lone gunman. Look at these figures and ask yourself if these murder statistics sound like a dangerous gangster town to you? I’ll never change the gangster fan’s attitude…but perhaps you have more common sense. You think?

Prohibition began January 16, 1920 and ended in December of 1933. That was thirteen years of the most brutal, bloodiest, gangster laden era in America’s history. During those 13 years according to the FBI, 701 men were slaughtered on the streets and in warehouses and restaurants all over the Capone area. Here in Peoria we had 79 murders, two of them, that’s right two of them were actually recorded as bootlegging murders. Wow…just how dangerous can it get? Also, from 1920 through 1939 Peoria recorded a total of 106 murders. That is virtually twenty years by the way. Believe me when I tell you I read all of those cases, police reports, coroner’s inquest and the newspaper accounts as well. I’ll do the math for you. That averages out at 5.3 per year.

When 1940 rolled around we had just over 105,000 people living within the small confines of our city, which was all of 9.3 square miles. We had over 200 taverns and gambling was a major force in our town. It started before the Civil War and grew over the years reaching the peak of its popularity here during WW 11.
All during the war and certainly before that we were a bawdy, wide-open town and one of the best liberty towns for service men in America. During the decade of 1940 through 1950 Peoria recorded a total of 109 murders. I remind you that was a ten-year period. That averages out at 10.9 murders per year. I know the history of this town and when I think of what was going on downtown during the war I am amazed that that figure was not doubled or even tripled.

So for the thirty-year period I just told you about the grand total of 215 murders were recorded by the offices of the coroner and the police department. Truth is, many of those murders were actually not within the city limits, but that never stopped the gangster fans from blaming them on this great city. So, I will lump them in as well. That averages out at 7.1 murders per year. Wow…how on earth did we ever live through such a horrific gangster era? Ask your grandpa.

1913

2009-11-27T10:21:00.000-08:00

PEORIA: A BAWDY, LUSTY TOWN

Norman V. Kelly

For twenty-seven years I have researched the bawdy, somewhat seedy side of Peoria, Illinois, and wrote books to perpetuate those stories. I began reading about us from the records of 1845 all the way through 1950, and believe me there is a lot of history within those 105 years. Beside the books I wrote a hundred or so stories that I never tried to publish. The truth is I sought out those bawdy, murderous stories because I was certain that folks would rather read that material than the bright side of Peoria’s history. I thought that I would just pick the year 1913, since it seemed to be a typical year here in our town and fill you in on a bit of historical facts about this great river city. Sorry gangster fans, but I’ll get back to murder and mayhem next month.

I was immediately struck by how organized, sophisticated and cosmopolitan our city was way, way back during the 1800’s. Think of it, I believe that there are 32 other towns, villages or cities all along the Illinois River that could have grown into a major city like Peoria, but that never happened. We grew head and shoulders above all the rest and it does not take a historian to tell you that we did that on the shoulders of whiskey and beer. We became known as “The alcohol capital of the world,” and were proud of it. The ‘do-gooders’ put a stop to all that during Prohibition, but they could not stop Peoria’s growth.

Peoria was fortunate to have strong leaders among them Mayor Woodruff who served the city eleven different times for a total of twenty-four years. A lot of local writers depict the mayor in a bad light but I know better. In 1913 I found the greater Peoria area to have a total of 120,996 souls, with 88,429 of those folks living within the city limits. We had eleven distilleries perking away along the Illinois River, and one of them claimed to be the largest in the world. There were 5 major breweries in town and our railroad system was envied by many large cities. Along with small manufacturers Holt was making what would soon be called Caterpillars and Peoria was a bustling, bawdy town that was still on the grow.

Folks from all over came to Peoria to shop and play. We had theaters and live entertainment that centered around seventy-seven downtown restaurants. Our hotels were among the most luxurious, and a Grand Opera House that was rated among the top most beautiful in the United States. Vaudeville would soon become king in Peoria, and we reveled in being the center of entertainment of all kinds. Farmers had a ready market here in Peoria, and they soon discovered that they could sell every bit of produce they could grow. The breweries and distilleries paid top dollar for their grains, and life was good here in the heart of Illinois.

We had 177 doctors registered here within our city limits, along with dentists and every kind of professional known to mankind. If you could not find what you were looking for here in town then we assumed you did not need it. Would you believe we had 100 music teachers listed in our phone book along with 38 newspapers? That’s right, thirty-eight if you list all of them, irrespective of their size. I cannot imagine what Peoria needed with 366 Notaries, but they were here. We had a dozen shoeshine parlors and 38 shoemakers in town. Want a cigar? We had dozens of retail stores and 44 cigar-makers in town. Do you think Peoria could sustain 78 gardeners or 155 poultry breeders? Well, we did.

Within a twenty-mile circle of Peoria we had 321 saloons, or taverns, bars, saloons, cabarets and dives, but the concentration of them within our city limits was unprecedented. For you religious folks we had well over a hundred churches and 10,000 kids attended our fine schools. There appeared to be a grocery store on every corner, adding up to close to 400 hundred of them. Peoria’s downtown was a busy, busy place indeed and our entire population centered their activities there. The shopping was incredible and folks would have to travel to Saint Louis or Chicago to even come close to the beehive of activity here in town. Streetcars covered every square mile, and crossing the street could be an adventure in and of itself.

Ninety percent of the folks that lived here in 1913 were born in America and we had the most diversified ethnic mix you could ever imagine. Folks here loved their ‘Old country’ foods and drinks and the local taverns flourished.
Peorians were hard working, God-fearing loyal Americans and they loved their country and their town.

Our park system, especially Grand View Drive drew folks from all parts of mid-America, and the weekends found them filled to the seams. Every carnival, circus or traveling show made Peoria a prime destination, and folks flocked to them. There were horse and dog racing, motorcars, and boating during the summer and Peoria welcomed them all. We were a boisterous, bawdy, lusty river town with a hometown flavor. Sure we had our vices, but believe me when I tell you Peoria was a gem… a pearl along the Illinois River.
Editor’s Note: Norm’s books are available in the Peoria Library. He welcomes your comments.

Shelton's Assets

2009-11-27T10:18:00.000-08:00

SHELTON’S ASSETS

Bernie Shelton…the man with all the money and gangster power was basically a myth perpetrated by grandfather’s and gangster fans. Oh he lived here…no doubt about that, coming to Peoria in early 1941.and died by a shot to the back here on July 28 1948 he was born in 1913.

He was supposed to control Peoria gambling which was a joke. Gambling got its start here way back before the Civil war and just slowly grew, expanding during Prohibition. Gambling reached its peak during WW 11, and died an abrupt death on 9-6-1946. When Shelton was here…especially beginning in 1942 we had 242 taverns and most of them had gambling of one sort or the other we had 9 places that were flat out casinos. Now many of these tavern owners were wealthy and if they wanted to get rid of Bernie and his brother Carl they would have done so either violently or by sheer pressure. Believe me, in those early years a hundred dollar bill could buy you just about anything…if you get my meaning.

Now I realize that the assets I am listing here after Bernie’s will was probated will mean nothing to your grandfather and the other gangster fans. I can just hear them say…”Well, hell, he probably had a couple of million dollars stashed somewhere.” What a joke.

Bernie’s Assets:

$56,199.00 This included his real estate holdings
which were evaluated at : $33,022.18 CASH $14,892.22
Chattel ( Personal property) $5,532.85 other holdings $20,000.00
Total Claims Against the Estate: $16,442.32 I’ll let you do the math.
Bernie Shelton was a pug, an uneducated thug. He was an ex-convict and could not even hold a liquor License in a city of Peoria tavern. He had a ‘legit’ business in Shelton’s Amusement Company, but he sure as hell knew little about properly running it. That was left up to brother Carl. They rented and sold gambling paraphernalia…pretty dice girls and dealers. They also had juke boxes and they made money at this. Sure he had a dive or two in town…one was the Red Onion and one across from HUNTS in the county called Parkway. He did not own them and his name was not on the license…but of course he ruled them and people did work for him. His house was out off Farmington Road and is still there. He called it “The Golden Rule” The street was and is called Shelton Lane...He did not own them and his name was not on the license. I would love to tell you some really lurid…wild stories about his murders and violence in Peoria…sorry they did not exist.

He was arrested in May of 1948, and he was killed in July of 1948. He had a wonderful girlfriend named ‘Ginny’ and he had a horse named major. He raised and showed show cattle and existed here as a gambler and a hustler…was he violent? I bet he was but his reputation as a gangster was pretty much what he lived off of…Sorry…but the people I talked to over the years liked him.

Everyone liked his wife…she was Genevieve ‘Ginny’ Paulsgrove…( Bernie’s First wife was Bonnie Shelton..

I found that they were living early 40’s at 707 Monson Apartment 9 under Genevieve and Bernie Pauslgrove….

She was a beauty salon Operator in the Jefferson Building or there where the Rialto Theater was…It was called the Jefferson Beauty Salon…operated by Mrs. Genevieve Paulsgrove…

Bernie’s wife bought a double plot at the Parkview Cemetery I saw the cars and the big funeral…I think it was July 31, since he died on the 28th…people mostly women took the flowers from the grave…it was a big deal.

He is buried in LOT 437 Section B in Parkview
His grave says S H E L T O N the stone says BERNIE B 1899 1948 the other grave stones is marked GENEVIEVE 1913 but she is not buried there.

"Peoria's 1918 Spanish Flu Terror"

2009-10-14T12:11:00.000-07:00

Peoria's 1918 Spanish Flu Terror
by Norman V. Kelly
Here in Peoria, Illinois the local newspapers reported the war news daily, listing casualties from the city and county of Peoria, Illinois. Just over 5,500 of our young men went off to ‘Fight the Hun,’ resulting in the death of 211 of them. However, on October 6, 1918 the headlines and stories reported a threat to the folks right here in town. They called it ‘La Grippe,’the Spanish word for the flu which was at that time reaching epidemic status and apparently heading our way.
Health Commissioner Dr. George Parker reported that Spanish influenza cases in Peoria were growing in leaps and bounds and he warned that the epidemic would only get worse. The news terrorized the area and folks began to retreat inside their homes as much as they could. Still the flu spread and on October 8, 1918 the good doctor ordered theaters, churches, and public gathering places to close. To add to our local problem, thirty-seven of our physicians were in the United States Army. Parker asked that every nurse in the area report to his office so he could get help to the folks that were in dire straights. They responded along with retired nurses and women that had nursing experiences. ‘Hospitals’ were opened up in vacant buildings and masks were handed out by the hundreds to worried Peorians. Still the epidemic spread.
A CLOSED CITY
More orders were issued banning gatherings of any kind, including funeral services. All of the city hospitals were over crowded and more vacant buildings were used to open up temporary, make shift hospitals to care for the influenza victims. Peorians, as always, from service clubs to single volunteers banned together to help wherever they could. Most businesses were closed, and the city took on a vacant look as the disease spread along with the fear and isolation.
Physician’s offices were besieged with new patients even though there was little if anything the doctors had in the way of proper medicines. The patients were advised to stay warm, try to remain isolated, and drink plenty of juices and water.
One set back as far as the epidemic was concerned was a huge gathering of folks downtown when the false news of the war ending became a wild rumor. These people broke the ban on assembling, and Parker was certain the epidemic would destroy the city. The number of flu cases did indeed increase but not as badly as the doctor had predicted. Mayor Woodruff ordered the inhabitants of the city to clean up their area, including the alleys,declaring that filth was a way for the disease to spread. This order did not come from Dr. Parker who doubted that cleaning up around the house would help. But…it did keep the healthy folks outside and away from their sick relatives.
As the city darkened, the factories began to close, the libraries and many of the restaurants and downtown businesses turned off their lights as well. By now there were 510 confirmed cases of Spanish Influenza in one stage or the other. Parker stated that there were probably many more unreported cases.
Throughout the ordeal the local authorities, led by Dr. Parker reminded people to stay calm, warm and hydrated. They asked every citizen to wear the gauze masks and simply avoid human contact if possible. The real heroes were the nurses that worked above and beyond the call of duty to help keep their city free of additional cases of influenza. Of course, many of them fell victim to the disease as well.
Within three additional weeks 525 more cases were reported, but mixed with the bad news was the fact that the disease seemed to be slowing down. That was good news to the beleaguered medical workers, but the fight was far from over.
MORE GOOD NEWS
Local newspapers reported that the Germans had agreed to treaty terms and it looked like it “Was over over there.” Still there were reports of Americans being killed and our local casualty flu count went up. The final count was 400 communities in the State of Illinois affected by the epidemic, and reports of deaths were coming in from all over. The big weapon against the flu seemed to be Vicks Vapor Rub, which of course was not a cure by any means. The final count here in Peoria, Illinois was 40 dead, many by complications of pneumonia.
By the end of October the major storm appeared to have passed. It was remarkable how a few sturdy doctors and nurses managed to take care of so many sick people. The volunteers, the Red Cross, the churches and the missions worked hundreds of hours to stop the spread of the plague here in town.It was a prideful time for Peorians and officials praised the folks that fought in the front lines to save their city. Personally I can tell you that the spirit of this town was lifted far beyond what any miracle drug could have provided.Of course we could have used one during those scary days of October 1918.

"Terror on a Downtown Streetcar"

2009-10-14T12:08:00.000-07:00

Terror on a Downtown Streetcar

NORMAN V. KELLY
Actually this story began on a beautiful fall morning, October 5, 1918, a long way from the terror that the title suggests. It all started when the horrified children of Mr. John (Susie) Zik found their mother’s body in her bedroom between the bed and the wall. The manhunt that began there at 519 Mathew Street in Peoria, Illinois raced quickly across the city as the terrifying news spread. Before nightfall every officer of every description was out looking for the suspected killer, Peter Valha, a ‘friend’ of the victim and her family.
In 1918 there was no sleek rescue vehicle pulling up to the Zik home, no forensic experts, just a driver and his assistant. What they saw in that bedroom on Mathew Street would remain their own personal nightmares for the rest of their lives. Soon the house was crawling with detectives, the coroner and his assistants along with the chief detective himself. Outside the neighbors were joined by hundreds of gawking folks, whispering and talking among themselves. Murder had come to their peaceful neighborhood and it was a scary thing to behold.
A GHASTLY SCENE
Coroner William B. Elliott stood looking down at the victim talking to the chief detective. “Dead about an hour, sexual assault, I’d say. A bullet wound in the stomach, and a nasty wound here in the neck and an exit wound here. Poor thing.”
Officer Frank Pierce Carr was the oldest man on the force, and his duties nowadays were pretty much administrative. Frank at age sixty-five was content to let the younger officers seek the glory. He answered the telephone, listened then made a call to the call box very close to the Zik home. An officer answered and Frank told him what he had just heard.“Bill, an iceman just called saying he saw a suspicious man over on Helen Street. The man pulled a gun on him, so I feel certain he’s our man. I’ll send some men from here to meet you over there.”
The intense manhunt for Peter Vehla was on and it was going to be a long, long night indeed. Chief Rhodes asked for the help of the Peoria County Sheriff’s office and every retired cop in town joined in the hunt as well. As the news spread, a shiver of fear went down the spine of an awful lot of Peoria folks that early fall evening. Vehla was armed, he was dangerous, and there was no doubt that he would kill again if he felt he had to.
SATURDAY IN BUSY DOWNTOWN PEORIA
Streetcar number 364 was ready to move out of the barn as the motorman Joe Frazee eased the car forward. As his conductor, a man named Nicolson walked to the rear of the car they were on their way downtown. It was going to be a busy trip, and the two men were in for a long day. It was still dark that early morning of October 6, 1918, a day these two men would never forget. As the single light searched down the rail line the car moved to its first stop.
John Ferber was waiting at that stop and as he hopped on he greeted Joe Frazee, followed by Bert Underwood. At the next stop seven would-be-passengers waited for the car. The last man to enter was a man in a brown suit. He sat next to Ferber and asked him if he could have the seat next to the window. Joe agreed. In short order very close to 75 people shared their ride in old number 364, most of them still only half awake. On it raced, the click clack of the wheels lulling some folks back to sleep. The blue light from the spark above the car crackled in the darkness as the car made its way down its own steel highway.
A tall man clung to the strap dangling from the roof of the car. He seemed very interested in the man in the brown suit sitting next to Mr. Ferber. When his stop came up he managed to get close to the conductor. “See that man in the brown suit?’ The conductor looked. “Yeah, am I supposed to know him?”“No, but you soon will. I am certain that that is Peter Velha, the cops want him for murder.” Mr. Nicolson convinced the witness to stay on the trolley as the conductor stepped off to make a call from the police call box.
DESPERATE MEASURES
Officer Frank P. Carr answered the phone expecting yet another sighting of the killer lose in the city. He had gotten almost a hundred calls and had been up all night answering them. “Hold that car,” Frank yelled into the telephone, “we are on our way.”
Moments later Officers Carr, Hathaway and Siege were heading for Franklin and Adams in an open, Ford patrol car. The lights were on in the streetcar and most of the windows were down as they pulled up behind the stopped vehicle. Both doors were shut tight as the three officers approached the streetcar. Conductor Nicolson stepped off with the witness to converse with the police officers. The front and rear doors of the streetcar were opened as the four men entered, two in the rear and two in the front doors.
Slowly the four men walked down the narrow space between the seats, each officer waiting for a signal from the witness. The man in the brown suit sat quietly as he watched the men coming closer to his seat. The curious passengers watched quietly as well as the drama unfolded before their very eyes. Suddenly a loud, desperate voice screamed, “For God’s sake…don’t shoot!”
SHOTS RANG OUT
The loud report of a shot being fired echoed up and down the crowded car creating an instant stampede of seventy-five panicked people all trying to get out of the streetcar at the same time. The onslaught caught the witness and the three officers completely off guard as they were swept out of the car as if a giant dam had broken loose. The officers found themselves on their backsides on the street. Folks ducked behind trees and parked autos as they heard the report of another shot from within the car.
The conductor and the motorman were now outside as well, leaving the car sitting in total darkness. Joe Frazee went around back and managed to reengage the overhead power line. The lights flickered, went off then back on to stay. Cautiously the officers approached both open doors, guns drawn, looking for the man in the brown suit. It was eerily quite as they stepped aboard.
What was that noise? The officers looked down to the rear of the car searching for the source of the sound. Two men were jammed in their seats as Mr. Ferber methodically whacked the man in the brown suit on the head with a pistol. Thump…thump. The officers raced to the two men.
“You got him, sir. Easy there…you got him.”
“I got him?” the bewildered man said, handing the gun over to the officer.
The crowd began to gather around the car as the officers took Peter Velha off the trolley. “Where’s Frank?”
Officer Carr was found sitting on the top step at the rear of the streetcar.As Officer Hathaway reached for Frank, the old officer stood, falling into the arms of his old friend.
Officer Carr and the wounded, beaten and moaning Peter Velha were loaded into the ambulance and rushed off to the hospital. Bert Underwood had been wounded in the leg, but chose to be taken to the hospital by a friend.
At the hospital, Dr. Nahas told the officers that the wound to Officer Carr would probably prove to be fatal since it had entered the abdomen and was bleeding freely. In the other hospital room officers heard Peter Velha say, “I killed Mrs. Zik.” The lieutenant bent over the dying man, “Did you shoot Officer Carr?”The wounded man closed his eyes, “No, a passenger did.”
At 6:04 that evening Officer Frank Carr died from his stomach wound. Frank Carr was sixty-five years and seven months old. Killer Velha died of his gunshot wound to the chest and the multiple beatings about the head.
The coroner’s inquest was held over the bodies of Mrs. Zik, Frank Carr and Peter Velha at the same time in the coroner’s offices within the old Peoria County Courthouse. The hearing was standing room only as the facts of the brutal murder of Mrs. Zik unfolded, culminating in the death of Officer Carr, Peter Velha and the wounding of Bert Underwood. John Ferber stood out as the hero that had captured Velha, and the fifty-nine year old man brought quite a bit of laughter during his testimony describing the battle he had with the killer. After reliving the battle moment by moment he said, “Well, I guess I must of hit him a few times, because…” The audience laughed realizing that Ferber had struck the man many, many times according to previous police testimony.
AFTERMATH
On Tuesday October 8, 1918 Officer Carr was buried. Because of the ‘No Assembly’ rule in effect, due to the ravages of influenza, only a small group attended the officer’s services. Sixteen honor guard police officers represented the police department at the burial in Dunlap, Illinois where Frank Carr was born on March 5, 1853. He was buried with full honors at the Dickinson Cemetery

"Shoot out at Larsons Barbershop"

2009-10-14T12:07:00.000-07:00

Shoot-Out at Larson's Barbershop
by NORMAN V. KELLY
November 13, 1933 dawned rather mildly here in Peoria, Illinois and the folks in downtown Peoria were active indeed. Over in Larson’s Barbershop at 3301 South Adams, men were waiting for an empty chair, talking, reading the morning paper and smoking. The two front doors were wide open and a pleasant breeze almost made the air breathable.
Detective Sergeant Robert E. Moran, Chief Detective Fred Montgomery and their side-kick Guy ‘Dusey’ Dusenberry were out cruising when Moran spotted a tall figure leaning inside the doorway of the barbershop. Dusey drove a block further, pulled over and moments later the three Peoria detectives were walking back towards Larson’s shop.
Russell Hughes, alias Guy West, a wanted and dangerous fugitive saw the three men walking towards him. Both his hands were in his pockets as he backed away from the open door. Moran entered first, followed by his detective friends. “Hold it right there, Hughes, don’t move.” Seconds later, according to a witness, “All hell broke loose.”
All three detectives screamed a warning and began firing their .38 and .32 caliber weapons, inter-mixed with the fugitive’s twin .38’s. The noise was deafening as bullets careened off the walls and barber chairs. Mirrors and windows shattered and the smoke from the weapons engulfed the room bringing visibility to almost zero.
THE SMOKE CLEARS
Unbelievably Russell Hughes had made it to the doorway and just as he raced out Dusey spotted him. Seeing that Moran was wounded, Dusey tossed aside his empty pistol and grabbed Moran’s weapon. Dusenberry tore out the door and spotted Hughes running down the alleyway. Montgomery was right behind the young detective as he watched Dusey fire off another round. The fugitive staggered but stumbled forward. When the two detectives caught up with the man, he was falling face first into the gravel.
A crowd had gathered and many of the people were walking down the alley toward the detectives. “Stay back folks,” Montgomery yelled, bringing the crowd to a halt. Dusey stayed close to the body of Hughes as Montgomery walked back to check on Detective Moran.
THE AFTERMATH
The room was still smoky and the smell of the acrid gunpowder burned the men’s nose and eyes. A fan was turned on and Montgomery was able to look at his own wounds. Blood was leaking down from his chest and onto his leg. Moran was sitting in a chair. “Did we get him Fred?” Fred grinned, “We got the bastard, Bob, you Okay?” Moran smiled, “Good. I’m okay, I’ll live.”
For the first time Fred noticed a man lying on the floor. A damp cloth was over his face and Montgomery thought the worse. Lawson spoke up. “Fred, he’s got a nasty wound in the stomach, I called the police station for help.”
Moments later three squads of uniformed officers took control of the scene. Fred and Dusey raced off to Saint Francis Hospital with Bob, and an ambulance took Mr. Jenkins to Proctor Hospital, where he survived.
Detective Moran was taken to surgery and reported stable. His family, friends, and police officers milled about the hospital corridors waiting for news. The Newspapers were already selling extras in the streets, as the town folks heard the terrific news of the shoot-out down at Larson’s Barbershop.
The news from Moran’s doctor was not good, telling Mrs. Moran that her husband was suffering from an infection.
MORAN CONDITION GRAVE
That was the morning headline here in Peoria November 15, 1933, and the news saddened the folks in Peoria. Before the day ended, brave Detective Moran died. He was only thirty-six years old. Folks from all parts of Peoria made their way to Bob’s home at 1859 Lincoln to pay their respects well into the late evening.
On Saturday hundreds of police officers from all over the state gathered in Peoria to honor their fallen comrade. Over at city hall the flag was lowered to half-mast, Bob’s desk was draped in black crepe and all offices were closed. Saint Mary’s magnificent church was standing room only for the requiem mass for Moran. Outside the streets were filled with folks just wanting to be part of the mourners even though the doors of the great cathedral were closed.
After the mass Father Sammon said of his fallen friend, “It is a rare case indeed when an entire city can gather to mourn but the death of Bob Moran is that case.”
With an honor guard of police officers, led by a squad of motorcycle police officers, the cortege left the church and headed for downtown Peoria where they paraded past the city hall. The tolling of the mournful church bells pealed once every minute in a final salute to Detective Moran. Folks all along the route bowed their heads in respect as the mourners went by. They then headed for Saint Mary’s Cemetery where Bob was laid to rest.
Bob Moran, husband, father, detective and friend of the city…gone now these 76 years.
Editor’s note: Norm is a local historian and author of several books on Peoria’s history.
Next month: Norm will bring us another story lost in the shadows of Peoria’s past.

"The Shoemakers Son"

2009-10-14T12:05:00.000-07:00

The Shoemaker
THE SHOEMAKER’S SON
Norman V. Kelly
Chillicothe, Illinois was incorporated as a village on February 22, 1861 and as a nice little city along the Illinois River on February 11, 1873. Henry McNulty was a son of a shoemaker and came into that trade naturally. He dabbled in leather as well, repairing harnesses and making a living in and around Chillicothe. Henry was a decent citizen, but like a lot of us, he had a major flaw in his character. For Henry, it was slipping off to Peoria, Illinois to get drunk.
Trouble for Henry and his wife Elisa began in 1871, culminating in her having her husband arrested in 1872 for battery upon her person. Actually before the year was out the charges would include assault, public drunkenness and disorderly conduct. Sadly, the final charge against Henry McNulty was for the murder of his wife, Elisa.
Around three in the morning on September 23, 1872, Henry McNulty banged on his neighbor’s door screaming that something terrible had happened to his wife. It was not until five that morning that a physician told the investigating deputy, “When I found her in her bed she was cold and stiff.” Truth is, a friend of Elisa McNulty told reporters, “I’m surprised she lasted this long.”
Henry McNulty ended up in the Peoria County jail trying to understand the situation he was in. He was not a reluctant witness, answering every question put to him by the sheriff and his detectives. He told police he had had a few drinks but he certainly was not drunk. He stated that he woke up in the morning and found his wife dead on the floor. That was all he knew about the matter and was surprised that they had arrested him for murder.Police were inclined to believe him at first but a careful study of Henry’s arrest record convinced them to turn the matter over to the state’s attorney. The matter was voted on by the grand jury and Henry found himself indicted for murder, a capital offense, which made him eligible for the death penalty.
THE TRIAL
The small Peoria County Courthouse was jammed full that December 10, 1872 when the judge Peterbaugh called his court to order. In short order the jury was picked and prosecutor Kellogg told the jury that they were there to try a man that was guilty of killing his wife. Henry had a court appointed lawyer who told the jury that his client was an innocent man.
All of the witnesses were from Chillicothe and one by one they related the episodes of violence they were familiar with between Henry and his wife Elisa. The defense fought hard to keep some of the testimony from the jury, but the evidence was overwhelming. Finally, the prosecution put on the medical examiner to tell the jury how Mrs. McNulty had died.
“Mrs. McNulty died a painful death due to a violentblow to her left side. The force of the blow or blowsfractured two ribs and ruptured her spleen.”
THE VERDICT
On December 13, 1872, seven hours after they had received the case the jury indicated that they had reached a verdict. The foreman told the judge that they had found the defendant guilty of a capital crime and recommended death by hanging.
Bond was never even discussed, Henry had no money, so he just languished in jail awaiting whatever appeals he was allowed. On December 31, 1872 Henry was told that all of his appeals, including an appeal to the governor were denied. Henry McNulty would die for the murder of his wife. However, the very next day readers of the local newspapers were stunned to hear that the convicted wife killer had gotten a thirty-five day reprieve. Along with the reprieve Henry was told that his execution date was now February 7, 1873.
THE EXECUTION
The condemned man sat in his holding cell in the Peoria County Jail listening to the carpenters building the gallows just for him. Just after one that afternoon of February 7, 1873 the sheriff’s deputies led Henry McNulty out of his cell. As Henry approached the gallows, he was escorted up the steps by the hangman. On the platform a padre stood waiting, holding a rosary and a bible.
At 1:22, when the sheriff pulled on the trap door rope, nothing happened. An alert deputy quickly bent over and yanked on the two bolts that were holding the trapdoor shut. The spectators jumped back as the loud crack of the freed trapdoor echoed in the high ceilings of the old jail. Henry McNulty’s body hurtled downward causing an audible snap in the man’s neck. As the crowd stood staring at the body, three physicians checked for a heartbeat. Finally, they nodded to the sheriff that Henry was dead. The sheriff cut the rope and McNulty’s body was put into a wooden coffin and carried off.
Was Henry McNulty guilty of a capital crime, a crime that made him eligible for the death penalty? A neighbor and friend of Mrs. McNulty later told reporters she had seen Elisa the very day before she died complaining of pains in her side from falling off a ladder. Did those injuries cause her death or did her husband kick her to death in a drunken rage? I guess it’s a wee bit late to be asking that questions, you think?
Editor’s Note: Norm is a retired private investigator, local historian and author. norman.kelly@sbcglobal.net
Next Month: Norm will bring us another murder from Peoria’s bawdy past.

Talk About The Shoemaker
Do you think he did it?
Posted by trishan on 03/19/09
Do you think this man kicked his wife while drunk or did she die from other injuries?
Comments (0) 03/19/09

"Gangsters in Peoria History"

2009-10-14T12:03:00.000-07:00

Gangsters in Peoria History
by Norm Kelly
After thirty years of researching Peoria’s history I can tell you there are a lot of gangster fans here in Peoria. Never, during my many lectures did anyone ask me about our churches, schools, or our industrial background. No, what they wanted me to talk about were gangsters in Peoria, Illinois. Frankly, I was glad because gangsters and sordid history is a lot more fun to talk about.
Peoria became a city in 1845 and we quickly rose head and shoulders above all the other river towns.Booze and beer propelled us along, and we grew like no other town, thanks to our location along the Illinois River and other factors. Never, and I mean never, was Peoria considered a gangster town nor were we referred to as a bawdy, wide-open town during our early history. Peoria was simply a great place to live, raise a family, and find a job.
Prohibition hit Peoria, Illinois harder than any other city because of our dependence on the breweries and distilleries. 1920 spawned the Roaring Twenties and gambling and prostitution really took hold here in the old river city during those thirteen years. Our reputation began to change from a Metropolitan, liberal town into a wide-open bawdy town. A place where a man could get a drink and dabble in the other vices the city provided. Still, you will never find any history of gangsters, nor was that label ever attached to the great town of Peoria, Illinois. Peoria had 79 murders during Prohibition and only one of them was connected in any way to bootlegging.
It was not until 1946, one hundred and one years into our history, that the word ‘gangster’ began to appear in the newspapers. That year brought us three ‘gangland style’ murders and the out of town reporters ripped into us with a vengeance. On the evening of February 21, 1946, Frank Kramer a local tavern owner was working inside his glassed in porch at his home on Farmington Road. A gunman, armed with a rifle, fired three shots, killing the well-known businessman. On a Saturday in September, 1946 the ‘bullet ridden’ body of Joel Nyberg was found on a golf course in Lacon, Illinois. He was a local small-time hoodlum who was out on bail pending his manslaughter conviction. On the evening of October 25, 1946, another gangland style murder hit the newspapers with major headlines. Phillip Stumpf, a gangster wannabe was driving on Big Hollow Road when a car came up behind him carrying four men with guns blazing. Police found eight holes in Stumpf’s car, and one in the back of his head.
In 1947, there was the kidnapping and murder of Flavel Feuger, a Bradley student which caused exciting headlines locally, and brought in at least a dozen reporters from large cities. Another notorious murder In 1947, that of Mr. George McNear, who was shot by a lone gunman outside his home, made major headlines. McNear was a very prominent Peorian and that murder was in the newspapers in many large cities across the United States. In July of 1948, Peoria’s own pet gangster, Bernie Shelton was shot down in the parking lot of a tavern across from Hunt’s Drive In. Reporters had a field day on that murder, and every story about Shelton that was ever written was reprinted and rehashed.
Those six murders ended the quaint reputation of Peoria being a bawdy, wide-open town. Newspapers from around the United States labeled Peoria a ‘ gangster town,’ and it stayed with us to this very day. One reporter, a man named Link, from Saint Louis was out after bloody details, and he hurt us the most. I am happy to say that he was indicted here in Peoria.
The FBI repeatedly reported that Peoria was as “safe as any other town its size.” Big city reporters, out for sensational headlines, would have you believe that machine gun fire was as common as fireworks on the Fourth of July. I am here to tell you that I was never able to verify the use of a Thompson Machine Gun in any of the 235 murders I wrote about over the years. Once the reporters left town our local reporters went about the task of reporting the coroner’s inquest and the actual facts surrounding the murders. But the damage had already been done, and the gangster reputation stuck.
Today, there are a lot of grandfathers in town that will tell you bloody details that will curl your hair. I have heard them all. Truth is, some of them have an element of truth to them, but most of them are just myths. I can also assure you that those same gentlemen will not believe a word of what I have just written. After all, gangsters and machine gun stories are a lot more fun than the simple truth. You can read all of the actual details in my books, only available in the Peoria Public Library.
Editor’s Note: Norm is a retired private investigator, historian and author. These stories are excerpts from his books, available in the Peoria Public Library. He welcomes your comments and questions.
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Posted by bobm on 03/12/09

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" A Brief History of St. Mary's Cathedral"

2009-10-14T12:02:00.000-07:00

A brief history of St. Mary's Cathedral
by Norman V. Kelly
Sunday, June 28, 1885 dawned bright with promise here in Peoria, Illinois. This day was to be a very special day for the Catholics living not only in Peoria County but many surrounding counties as well. Although it was indeed a Catholic day, the entire city and county of Peoria would participate. Some of them would just come for the exciting marching bands and the pageantry of the parade, but to many it was a religiously important day as well.
The excitement centered around the magnificent, breath taking beauty of the new Saint Mary’s Cathedral that was to be erected on Madison and Green Streets in downtown Peoria, Illinois. What Peorian, returning home has not felt the swell of excitement crossing the bridge to downtown Peoria? The sight of Peoria after a long auto trip is exciting enough, but over to the right, its two giant twin spires bathed in light, is the magnificent Saint Mary’s Cathedral.That landmark has been there throughout the years welcoming folks home.
Today would be the setting of the cornerstone for this great church and thousands would be here in town to witness the pomp and ceremony. Casper Mehler was authorized to begin the drawings of the plans for the church on April 22, 1894. Once they were completed the contractor, Mathias Schnell took over and the first stone was laid on May 15, 1884. Mr. Schnell was from Rock Island, Illinois, but most of the workers from the church were from this area.
June 28, 1895 was picked as the day when the cornerstone would be installed, even though considerable construction had already been completed. Folks, congregations, organizations, church leaders, and organized societies were invited to attend. People began coming into the city by every means of transportation available in 1885. The local folks made up welcoming committees and met the visitors at the train depot, escorting them to their own homes, hotels, inns and churches throughout the city.
Early on June 28, 1885, people from all over the state came together downtown to form the gigantic parade that would form up around the courthouse. Three of the largest and best bands in the state would lead the parade, followed by smaller bands and marching societies. Some of them were very large, including Knights of St. George, the Irish Hibernians, temperance groups and dozens of brightly dressed, exuberant groups. Spencer’s band, a very famous band, entertained as the groups formed and would also march in the parade.
By two that afternoon, clouds rolled in and a light drizzlebrought out colorful umbrellas, but the clouds soon passed. The Grand Marshal, Honorable Edward Spellman, signaled all was ready and the front band struck up a joyous piece and off they stepped up Adams, then up Main and over to Madison where they crowded up and around Green Street to the Cathedral. Thousands lined the parade route and then fell in behind the marchers as they all headed for the ceremonies. This certainly was an event open to the entire town and many felt pride along with the Catholics. Bishop John Lancaster Spalding made his way to the platform erected near the cornerstone and looked out at the huge, smiling crowd. He held up his hands and then welcomed everyone. The bishop then made his way to the altar with several priest to bless the cross. The bishop wore purple with a white rochet, while the priests wore white. Itwas a solemn occasion, but the happiness was evident in the faces of the crowd and the participants.
The contingent then made its way to the large cornerstone where the blessing of the foundation and the stone took place. A litany to the saints was spoken as the ceremonies ended. The bishop then spoke to the people gathered there at the great church.
The bishop spoke for several minutes about how the church had come about and invited everyone to keep the church alive and open to everyone. “This church shall be the center of light and power and unity for this whole diocese.” He then spoke elegantly about the City of Peoria, Illinois.“No man loves this city more than I do or is prouder of its present position, or hopeful for its future. There is no fairer site for a city in this country.” He then called upon pastors and people of other denominations to help support the building.
Bishop Spalding went on to tell the assemblage that he was certain that Peoria area’s population would be as many as 100,000 in the near future and that “This church will be built solidly, symbolizing the power and enduring life of the religion given to man by Jesus Christ.” THE CORNER STONE
Placed within the cornerstone, written in Latin was the history of the diocese here in the Peoria area. It included several other counties when it was founded by Pope Pius 1X in 1876. At that time there were 33 priests and 70 churches. By 1881 it had grown considerably and by 1885, there were 160 churches, 109 priests and several institutes, schools and academies.
Also placed within the cornerstone are several local newspapers, including the Transcript and a German paper as well. A list containing all of the members of the church in the diocese was included along with all of the priests names and churches. Several coins dated 1885 were included inside a small box.
The building was to be in the Gothic Style and dominate the area. The two spires climb two hundred feet from the sidewalk and the towers are massive, reaching a height of 76 feet. Fourteen by twenty-eight foot massive doors would adorn the main part of the church, which would be 85 by 76 feet in dimension. Since that glorious day the mighty Saint Mary Cathedral has been a beacon to visitors and the symbol of a city that has always been a wonderful place to raise a family. The church, because of the stately trees and the park like setting is even more beautiful than it was way back there in 1885.

THE GREAT DAY
When Bishop Spalding arrived here in Peoria early in 1877, he had a small, grayish, one-story church, located at Bryant and Jefferson. Almost from the very first day, Bishop Spalding told his parishioners that he had a vision for Peoria, for this diocese and his church. The holy man chose some property on Madison and Green for his new church. He chose this land because it was said to have been the first mission for LaSalle and Marquette. It was also very close to the first high mass that was ever said here in Peoria, November 21, 1698.
The bishop spent $20,000 for the property that he wanted, a hefty some in those days. By now the bishop’s plans had become a dream of his followers and by 1894 that dream was about to come true. Ground was broken for Saint Mary’s Cathedral on 4-22-1885. Just a short month later, May 15, 1885 the corner stone was laid amid a wonderful celebration, which you already know about.
THE MIGHTY DOORS OPEN Amid pomp and ceremony and marching bands, the Cathedral was once again the center of a celebration.After almost four years of work and an expenditure of almost $150,000.00 the mighty church was ready to open its doors to the people. It was May 15, 1889 when people gathered from far and wide to be part of history. Thousands gathered, both Catholic and just plain Peorians who knew a significant event when they saw one.Once the ceremonies began they would include two Archbishops, 80 priests and 40 altar boys. The solemn high mass was led by Bishop Spalding in purple and gold surrounded by the white clad priests. The organ was played by widely known Gerald R. Franks, accompanied by a huge chorus of melodic voices.
Reverend Henning gave a rousing two-hour sermon and never once even mentioned the Cathedral of Saint Mary.Why? Only the reverend knew the answer to that question and no one was asking.
In the 1930’s a church wide renovation was done to lighten the interior. Two Fluer-de-lis were installed, one for Joliet and one for Marquette. Again in 1953 the sound system was revised, and lighter, warmer paint was used for the interiors. Another huge crowd showed up on August 14, 1988 when the church was rededicated.
Although the Church has fallen on bad times, considering that in 1981 it was the epicenter for 238,000 Catholics located in 212 parishes, it is still a beacon. In my view it is no longer just a Catholic Church, but more of a symbol, a familiar sight to all of us. It has stood there in its mighty glory since 1885, may it stand another thousand years.
MOTHER TERESA STANDS BY
Mother Teresa, the most famous, pious woman the world has ever known, well, the modern world that is, was here in Peoria, Illinois in 1960. She came to spread her word and speak before a Catholic woman’s group. Her message is simple, “take care of the poorest of the poor.”
Mother Teresa, MC, that stands for Missionary of Charity was also here December 10, 1995. She came to thank the Sisters of Saint Francis for taking care of one of her nuns. There are at least six of Mother Teresa’s nuns here in Peoria, taking care of the poor out of Saint Mary’s Cathedral. People flocked around her and although it was a very cold day, Mother Teresa wore her famous sandals known to the world.
While here she told her followers that “I am a poor woman that prays.” She went on to say that “God had not called us to be successful, but to be helpful.”
Peoria has a magnificent artist here in town, although he is from Metamora as a boy. He is Lonnie Stewart and he has his studios on Water Street. He is truly famous for his sculptures and portrait paintings. At any one time his art is being viewed around the world. He traveled to Calcutta to meet with Mother Teresa, who was in a hospital at that time. He completed a portrait of her, and began a six-foot sculpture of the famous lady.
Mr. Stewart said of Mother Teresa, “She is not a tiny woman and I noticed that she had long arms and large hands.” He said of his work, “Notice that she has one foot in front of the other and she is looking over your head. I wanted her to be communicating with God.”
THE DEDICATION
On November 29, 1998, a large crowd including six nuns from the Ministry of Charity crowded around the still hooded statue of Mother Teresa. They were anxiously waiting for their first glimpse of the work of Lonnie Stewart. After the appropriate speeches the moment arrived and once the cloth was dropped, oohs and aahs and applause rang out in appreciation. The work is located to the left of Saint Mary’s Cathedral, certainly the most appropriate site in Peoria.
Present among the well-wishers was Cilla Marc, wife of Charles Marc, the man that had financed the entire work and site erection. All seven children of the couple were in attendance as well. On the right hand side of the base of the work there is an inscription. Dedicated to the memory of Charles Marc. Mr. Marc died of cancer in 1997. When he met with Father Meyer it was suggested that this statute of Mother Teresa would be a wonderful remembrance. And so it was and will be for centuries to come.

Talk About It!
What do you know about St. Mary's Cathedral?
Posted by trishan on 04/17/09
Norm Kelley has given us the history of one of Peoria's significant landmarks. Have you been there? What was your impression?
Comments (0) 04/17/09

"A Hallmark Murder"

2009-10-14T12:01:00.000-07:00

A Hallmark Murder
by Norman V. Kelly
Pretty Mildred Hallmark, age 19 boarded a streetcar in downtown Peoria, Illinois on the rainy night of June 16, 1935. She was heading for her home at 1100 E. Maywood. Once she stepped off the car she vanished. Her nude body was found grotesquely sprawled across a fallen tree in Springdale Cemetery. Her murder brought terror to the hearts of folks in Peoria, and sparked a massive manhunt for her killer.
Gerald Thompson, age 25, was a handsome, likeable young man, who worked at Caterpillar and lived in Peoria Heights. When he was arrested for the murder of Miss Hallmark, his friends, neighbors and family were positive that the police had the wrong man. As it turned out, they were wrong…dead wrong.
Detectives, as in most murder cases, received hundreds of ‘tips,’ but only three eventually led them to Thompson. The most important witness was a rape victim herself. Detectives grilled the young killer for 26 hours up on the third floor of city hall. Investigators questioned the suspect relentlessly, allowing short breaks, a bit of water and then more questions. One by one the victim’s garments were dropped into Thompson’s lap. Horrified, he rocked backwards forcing an officer to catch his tilted chair. First the battered and mud splattered hat then the rest of the victim’s clothing were floated onto his lap. Moments later he was sobbing and in a complete break down. Once he recovered his confession was recorded. At least a thousand people filled the streets below, waiting for a word from the police. Finally, a detective went over to the open window. A roar went up as he said, “He did it, he confessed!”
Lovable Gerald Thompson turned out to be Peoria’s first serial rapist. His little black book guided the police to his brutal conquests, naming at least sixteen women. Mildred Hallmark was raped and died from a broken neck from a powerful blow to her chin during the assault. Mildred managed to inflict a nasty bite on her killer’s thumb.

THE TRIAL
On July 22, 1935, spectators, mostly women, filled every inch of space as the most sensational trial of the thirties began in the Peoria courthouse. Once the doors were opened a mad rush ensued causing one of the doors to be damaged by the rampaging women bent on getting a seat. Outside many hundreds of people lined the walkway between the jail and the courthouse to get a glimpse of the now famous Gerald Thompson. Jurors clamored to be chosen and it took two days to complete the task.
Thompson was well represented and once the trial got underway, hundreds remained outside hoping somehow to get a seat. The highlight of every murder trial often comes when the defendant takes the stand in his or her own defense. The debate raged between the lawyers over the admittance of Thompson’s confession. Thompson took the stand, but the jury was dismissed. He tried to convince the judge that his confession was coerced. Still the spectators heard from the man of the hour, and it was dramatic indeed. When it was admitted as evidence, Thompson’s chances of an acquittal flew out the window. The battle raged between the lawyers in the sweltering heat of the July trial. The State put on quite a show, with witness after witness adding to the nails in the defendant’s coffin. On July 31, 1935 the jury found the defendant guilty, recommending that he be executed.
While a prisoner in the county jail, Thompson received many visitors. He was engaged to Lola Hughes, and every time she visited the local newspapers printed photos and many quotes from Gerald Thompson. Pornographic pictures were stolen from Thompson’s bedroom and were sold on the streets of Peoria for twenty-five cents. He also caught the eye of some local women that not only wrote him, they were allowed to visit him.
THE EXECUTION
Thompson was taken to death row in the state prison in Joliet to await his execution and the finalization of the mandatory appeals. On October 15, 1935, Gerald Thompson was strapped into ‘Old Smokey’ as they called the electric chair. His last words were printed in the local newspapers. “Good-bye. I hope God will accept me.” Mr. Hallmark, also a Caterpillar man, witnessed the execution of the man that had destroyed his daughter. “Thank God that’s over,” he said as he stepped down from the chair he used to watch the killer die.
Gerald Thompson was buried in Macomb next to his grandfather, a war hero. June the sixteenth of 2009 will mark the seventy-fourth anniversary of Mildred Hallmark’s murder. Her disappearance, the discovery of her body, the manhunt for her killer and the murder trial here in Peoria were sensational, terrifying news in Peoria, Illinois in 1935.
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"Early Peoria Killers"

2009-10-14T12:00:00.001-07:00

Early Peoria Killers: Williams & Brown
by NORMAN V. KELLYLet me take you back to Peoria, Illinois in 1850 when the city was all of five years old. We began at the edge of the Illinois River, just a small trading village, named after the local Peoria Indian. We grew… my how we grew and Peoria attracted every kind of folk imaginable. Not all of them worth having, I might add. Among those undesirables were George Williams, Thomas Brown and Tom ‘Tit’ Jordan. On that cool November first, 1850, they were down at the stockyards hunting for someone to rob. Once they zeroed in on their victim they stalked him most of the day.The victim was Harvey Hewett and he was in town selling off a large herd of cattle. After a successful day of moneymaking he headed out of town alone in his horse drawn buggy. Near what we call Adams and Spring Streets he was waylaid, beaten senseless, robbed and left for dead. He died nine days later, but during his lucid moments he gave a very good description of the three men that had attacked him. A huge posse was formed and off they went heading south to apprehend the three killers, known personally by local tavern denizens. In those days thieves and killers were usually run down and hanged at the nearest tree. Folks in Peoria expected the same fate to meet these three killers as well.THEY’RE ALIVE!News that the posse had captured rather than hanged the culprits was indeed surprising news. However, Thomas Jordan had escaped to New Orleans and the Peoria Sheriff had personally contacted the Governor of Louisiana for help in getting Jordan back to Peoria. Here in Peoria, the newly appointed Judge William Kellogg held the murder trial of Williams and Brown on November 20, 1850.The prosecutor got into evidence the signed statements of the victim, Harvey Hewitt and it took but a very short time to find the killers guilty. They of course blamed the missing killer, Thomas Jordan for the actual killing.On November 27, 1850 Judge Kellogg sentenced the two men to die by hanging, setting the date of December 29, 1850 as the execution date.A DANGEROUS MOBA rumor started in town that the hanging would be postponed sparked a mob to storm the small courthouse demanding that the two killers be hanged or turned over to the enraged mob for justice. The out gunned Sheriff was forced to step out of the way. Brown and Williams armed only with a brick and a knife fought off the rioters, injuring two and actually killing one man. Once they had the killers out of the jail they were helpless. Surprisingly the two beaten men were returned to the jail. Local reporters at the time stated that the leaders had forgotten to obtain a rope prior to the attack. So, Williams and Brown survived the mob, but still faced the hangman. As it turned out the postponement had been warranted because the judge was waiting for Jordan to return to Peoria. The court wanted the two condemned men to testify against Jordan but that never happened. Jordan was later tried but escaped the death sentence. Judge Kellogg set the hangings for January.AN OUTDOOR HANGINGJanuary 15, 1851 dawned, blustery and frigid as folks began to gather at thegallows constructed out in the prairie, which we now know as Sanford and Second Streets. Our population at the time was just over six thousand but by the time the hanging got underway over fifteen thousand folks were in attendance. The crowd roared as the wagon containing the two condemned men pulled up inside the fenced in area. Deputies cleared the way as they brought the terrified men out of the wagon and up the gallows steps. The crowd surged forward once again and soon the fence was flat on the ground.Once up on the platform the two men turned to face the sea of angry faces. The noise began to lessen and soon the crowd stood silently looking up at the condemned men. The hangman guided black hoods over each killer’s head as the padre mumbled prayers. As the executioner led the two men to the trapdoor, he deftly slipped ropes about their necks. The snap of the opening trapdoor rang out in the cold morning air hurtling the men to their deaths. A mighty roar went up and then silenced as the bodies began to twist slowly at the end of the ropes. The two attending physicians pronounced Brown, then Williams dead. The bodies were cut down and put into pine coffins. Two horse drawn hearses carried them off to a pauper’s grave. For a moment or so the folks stood silently, then one by one they turned and walked away. The event marked the first public hanging in the City of Peoria’s history.Six other hangings would take place in or on the courthouse property here in town. Two other convicted killers would die in the electric chair in Joliet.Editor’s Note: Norm is a local historian and author. His book, UNTIL YOU ARE DEAD, detailing all of Peoria’s executions is available in the Peoria Public Library. (norman.kelly@sbcglobal.net)
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2009-10-14T11:58:00.000-07:00

Norm is a local historian and author who most recently wrote a story entitled, "The Mystery of the Missing Manuscript" for The Big Read Peoria Reads which incorporated local history into a story about the 2009 book choice The Maltese Falcon. His book, UNTIL YOU ARE DEAD, detailing all of Peoria’s executions is available in the Peoria Public Library. Much of his writing comes from his real life experiences as a private detective in Peoria. Norm welcomes your comments and questions and can be reached at norman.kelly@sbcglobal.net.