Thoughts, Photos, Articles, and Stories from Long Ago

These are Articles from The Collinsville Herald The Advertiser Press Collinsville Illinois

GEORGE GOEHL Confessed slayer of Anthony Gallamano Source: Bridgeport California Chronicle Union 1911-1914 CONCEALED TWO YEARS. ILLINOIS SLAYER CAPTURED IN HIS CRAMPED QUARTERS. County's Officers had searched in vain while the fugitive was hidden in the village. How he was caught. Through an opening 18 inches square George Goehl of Collinsville, confessed slayer of Anthony Gallamano, received his meals and necessaries of life and eluded the authorities of Madison county. Illinois, two years. He was arrested in his biding place the other night by a posse headed by Joseph Long, chief of police of Collinsville. Goehl, who is a carpenter, has been sought for the killing of Gallamano at a picnic at Horseshoe Lake. May 29, 1910. Gallamano was stabbed in the back by Goehl, who disappeared mysteriously after the cutting and authorities had "been baffled in their efforts to find him. Gallamano, who was the proprietor of a soda water factory in Collinsville, lived only six days after he was injured and in an ante-mortem statement declared Goehl was his assailant. After the stabbing, the traction lines from Collinsville to Horseshoe Lake were watched for Goehl, but no trace was found. The authorities went to the Goehl home in Fletcher Heights, which is in the outskirts of Collinsville, but the search was in vain. Chief Long received information the other day that Goehl was again in the vicinity of his home and quietly took a squad of men with him to make the arrest. As a special precaution, and in order to disarm the suspicion of Goehl's relatives, a butcher wagon was pressed into service and a boy drove Chief Long and his aids to the Goehl home. They remained in hiding in the bed of the wagon as they passed the house, fearing their approach might be communicated to the fugitive and he might again escape. After dark they surrounded the house, while Chief Long and one of his men approached the front door. They knocked and were admitted by the parents of the fugitive. The chief and his men were told the young man was not In the house, but they insisted that they had come for a search and would make one. Outbuildings were first inspected and then the house gone over carefully, but not a sign was found of the young man. The chief, going through the garret, noticed a curtain hanging over a small opening in the wall. This led to a small hole under the eaves. One of the officers, with his revolver In his hand and armed with an electric searchlight, entered the bode. His foot struck against a soft object huddled under the eaves, and, flashing his light, the officer discovered Goehl. The young man readily surrendered and told of his flight after the killing and his return to the protection of his family. He said he was glad the affair was ended, and that he was ready to stand trial. ADVERTISER PRESS NEWSPAPER OBITS COLLINSVILLE, ILLINOIS MARCH 18, 1911 - was killed by a fall---workman at Lead Works receives injuries resulting fatally....Paul LANNON, employee at the white lead plant and The St. Louis Smelting and Refining Co. just north of the city limits, dies at the hospital Friday evening last as the result of injuries received Tuesday previous at which time he fell from the top of the hoppers in the bag house to the concrete floor of the main floor and alighted on his head. He was picked up unconscious and taken to the hospital where it was found that his skull was fractured over the right eye and the wound proved so serious that death ensued in a few days. The white lead plant has been closed down for some time and previous to resuming work some cleaning was being performed. Lannon had previously worked at the plant, but this was his first shift under the resumption. He was sent by the foreman of the shift with a broom to the top of the hoppers about fifteen feet above the floor to sweep, and just previous to the accident had been told to come down and it is supposed that he tripped on his broom and was precipitated to the floor below. Coroner Streeber came down from Upper Alton and an inquest was held Sunday morning and the jury found a verdict of accidental death. Lannon was not known to have any relatives and the funeral expenses were taken care of by the county. MAY HAVE BURIED HIS WEALTH Daughter is investigating story of Treasure found on Farm. When Michael VOISIN who owned a farm near Troy died many years ago he was not known to have been especially well fixed and the farm on which he had lived for years in the course of time passed into the hand of a man named Jacob PRESS. But a daughter of Michael VOISIN, by the name of Mrs. William SCHROEDER, living at 908 Lami street in St. Louis was in the city this week and was conducting a quiet investigation into a rumor that she had heard to the effect that in taking down an old smoke house which was a landmark on the old homestead where she lived as a girl, PRESS had come across a considerable buried treasure and Mrs. SCHROEDER is convinced if this is found true that the money is wealth buried by her father during a certain period when he was trying to conceal his assets to prevent them from falling into the hands of his first wife, from whom he was separated. Mrs. SCHROEDER states that Michael VOISIN and his first wife became estranged and after much bickering the woman left him. At this time VOISIN was known to have a considerable amount of money, thought by Mrs. SCHROEDER to be in the amount of $23,000-$30,000. After the separation, Mrs. VOISIN made a number of efforts to receive what she thought was her share of the wealth of her husband but all efforts proved unavailing as no assets could be found. VOISIN had converted everything he could dispose of into cash and no trace of the cash could be found, and it was always supposed that VOISIN had buried the money some place. Afterwards VOISIN secured a divorce and married again, and at the time of his death was not reputed to be wealthy and no trace of the wealth reported to be concealed ever was found as far as is known. But Mrs. SCHROEDER has heard the rumor and was confident that if she is able to get proof that such a treasure was found she will be able to legally recover a share of the money. Mrs. SAM WRIGLEY of Collinsville is another daughter of the Michael VOISIN mentioned and it was at the WRIGLEY home that Mrs. SCHROEDER was staying while in the city and the ladies would be much obligated to parties knowing of any evidence, communicating the same to them. According to the Jan. 1, 1932, edition of the Collinsville Herald, "John McMullen, 48, of 479 North 22nd Street in East St. Louis, a former resident of Collinsville, was killed by a fall of coal and clod in St. Ellen mine, between Fairview and O'Fallon at 4 p.m. last Thursday afternoon as he was preparing to depart for his home to spend Christmas. McMullen was a machine runner and had completed his day's work at the time of the accident. McMullen, who has a sister and two brothers living in Collinsville, was well known here, for many years playing a trombone in the Collinsville Concert Band. He also played in the orchestra at the Madison Kennel Club for several seasons. The fall of coal and clod buried McMullen, fracturing his skull, crushing his legs and causing internal injuries. At the time of the accident he was with Jess Conklin of Booster Station who was uninjured. McMullen was employed at St. Ellen mine for nearly eight years." In the Herald, "According to the 1932 almanacs being handed out by the drug stores, there will be four eclipses this year - two of the sun and two of the moon. The first eclipse of the sun will be on March 7. A partial eclipse of the moon follows on March 22. The second eclipse of the sun will be on August 31 and will be total, and a partial eclipse of the moon is scheduled to occur on Sept. 12 but will be invisible in these parts." "A lone bandit held up the Phillips 66 filling station at the corner of Clay and Seminary streets at 1 p.m. Wednesday afternoon and obtained $85 in cash from the cash drawer. Herman Junghans, manager of the station, was seated at his desk when the bandit entered and was forced to enter a rest room. Junghans had the large amount of cash on hand to pay for a new supply of gasoline which was due to arrive Wednesday afternoon. It is believed that the bandit may have known of the transaction which was to be made. A police dog which was in the station with Junghans jumped at the bandit as he entered and covered the manager with a revolver. The bandit commanded Junghans to call of dog away and Junghans obeyed, the dog retreating," the Herald reported. In the ads: "New shoes sold, old shoes re-sold - Abe Mann the shoe man 214-16 West Main Street. Eagle stamps given with all purchases, also with shoe repairing." According to the Feb. 5, 1932, edition of the Collinsville Herald, "The eldest brick house in Illinois north of East St. Louis is being wrecked and the soft bricks in the walls of the building, useless for any other building purpose, are being used to fill up low places along Bluff road. The house is the former home of the late Col. Samuel Judy at Peters Station. Emil Brockmeier, son of Gus Brockmeier who owns the farm on which the house is located, and Russell Lee have already torn off the roof and are continuing to tear down the building. A stone in the east wall of the building with the date 1811 was removed last week. It was found to be an old tombstone which once marked the grave of Cyrus, son of Joseph and Mary Gillespie. The dates 1848-1849 are on the stone which is about 9 x 20 inches. The stone was placed in the building in 1892 when repairs were made to take the place of the original wood marker set in the building in 1811. Construction of the Judy home was started in 1808 several years after Col. Judy came to Madison County from Kaskaskia. Judy, considered as Madison County's first permanent resident, farmer, horticulturist, Indian fighter, one of the first commissioners in 1812 and a justice of the peace, made the sun-dried brick a short distance from the place they were used. The building was damaged by an earthquake in 1811 and was rebuilt and enlarged. Judy occupied the house for about 30 years before his death in 1838." According to the Herald, "Additional details for the reopening of the Thermal mine, south of Edwardsville, were discussed this week following conferences of interested parties and a meeting of members of the miners' local. Several facts were bought out at the meeting of the Edwardsville Chamber of Commerce and the miners' union and Jack Considine, operator. It is estimated that reopening of the mine will entail an expense of $25,000. A switch from the Illinois Terminal to the mine yard must be rebuilt at a cost of approximately $7,000 and the operators must purchase at least 17 loading machines, repack eight boilers, purchase two new sets of cable wires and spend two weeks cleaning up the workings." In the ads: "Don't sleep on left side, gas hurts heart. If stomach gas makes you restless and unable to sleep on your right side, take Adlerika. One dose will rid you of gas or nervousness and bring sound sleep. Ostle-Campbell Drug Co." ADVERTISER PRESS NEWSPAPER OBITS COLLINSVILLE, ILLINOIS MARCH 25, 1911..........THE GRIM REAPER..Many deaths in Vicinity of Collinsville during the past week.... The funeral held Sunday over the remains of REV. MARRIN KETURIKAT was one of the largest public gatherings for an event of that nature which has taken place in this city in years. Hundreds of visitors were present from outside of the city, the members of the Lutheran synod for this district being present almost in their entirety. Sermons were preached in German, English and Lithuanian and the services at the cemetery were in charge of the Rev. VON STEOHE, (?) of the German Lutheran church in this city. The outpouring of the friends and acquaintances of the deceased testified to the respect in which the deceased had been held, and many handsome foral offerings gave token of the love inspired by the kindly and true stewardship which the dead man had rendered in the cause of the Master during his pastorate in this city. CHRIS FAITZ..........Chris FAITZ, a well known farmer whose home for many years has been in the BLACK JACK neighborhood where he tilled the soil, died at his home Monday, after an illness of some weeks. The cause of death being an ailment of the stomach. He was well provided with this worlds goods and has been a most successful agriculturist. He leaves a wife and several children to mourn his loss and his demise is considered a real affliction to the neighborhood where he made his home. He was 53 (?) years of age and the family is one of the pioneers of this part of the state SIX YEAR OLD CHILD OF GEO. FEIG........A six year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. GEO. FEIG, who live in the neighborhood of the BETHEL church died at the family home from diabetes. The funeral took place Tuesday, the interment being at Bethal cemetery. The afflicted family have entire sympathy of many friends in their time of sorrow. DAUGHTER OF JOHN HARTMANN....A six months old infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. JOHN HARTMANN, who reside at Pleasant Ridge, died Sunday at the family home, the funeral being held Tuesday. Friends of the family offer them sympathy in their affliction. MRS. FRANKL DRIQUE.....Mrs. Frank DRIQUE, who was before her marriage MISS ANNA KOEHLER and whose age was only 21, died at her house near HEINZVILLE Monday of pneumonia. The lady had only been married seven months to FRANK DRIQUE, a miner and her taking off at the tender age while in the very prime of young womanhood was a sad blow to her relatives and friends. Her ailment had a sudden termination in death and she was called to her last home while life offered every joy of the future. The death of this estimable young matron is a severe shock to those who had loved her in life and the sorrowing husband and friends are heartbroken at her demise. The funeral took place Thursday and the interment was at the Reppler cemetery near Lebanon. ROBERT J. SCHOENBAUM......Robert J. SCHOENBAUM, a blacksmith, who formerly lived in this city and for sometime conducted a business in Collinsville, but whose home has been at East St.Louis in late years, died in that city last week at the age of 48 years. The deceased had many friends in Collinsville who will be grieved to learn of his demise. MRS. JOSEPH SNADDEN....Mrs. Joseph SNADDEN aged 53 years, whose home was at Caseyville died Thursday morning of heart trouble, her passing being most sudden after an illness of only about thirty minutes. The lady was the mother of three sons and three daughters all of whom have grown up and who are well known people in the vicinity of that place. The funeral will take place Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the family home. The interment being at the Caseyville cemetery. A number of relatives of the family reside in Collinsville and the deceased lady's acquaintances in this city was numerous and her death occasions grief in those circles in which she was known. To those, who have lost the companionship of their mother and to the bereaved husband, the condolences of friends are extended. MRS BERTHA BEST.....Mrs. Bertha BEST, aged 43, wife of Frederick BEST, a carpenter employed at the carriage shop of Fred SWATKOPF(as spelled), died suddenly about 5 p.m. Sunday, leaving a mourning husband and ten children as survivors to miss the kindly ministrations of a wife and motherr. Mrs. BEST the Sunday previous to her death had given birth to a child, but was supposed to be doing nicely and the day previous to her death had come to the city to do some shopping, driving a horse and light wagon. On her way home she was taken with cramps and was unable to continue her hold on the lines, and the horse being a gentle beast proceeded on the way home, where the lady was helped from the vehicle. Her husband was sent for from his work and went to a physician and secured medicine, the doctor deciding that the complaint was rheumatism and prescribing for that ailment. Sunday the lady was much worse and expired almost without warning and it was the opinion of the physician that the rheumatism had reached the heart and caused her death. Coroner Streeper held an inquest Monday and the jury brought in a verdict in accordance with the above facts. The funeral was held Wednesday afternoon . The deceased was sister of FRED SWARTZKOPF and quite widely known in the city where she has made her home for many years. JAMES DEVIER, about 70 years old, who has been doing porter work to a saloon and other odd jobs about Maryville for the last six months, having come to that city from the county infirmary at Edwardsville, was found dead in the bottom of the shaft in Donks No. 2 mine Thursday morning. Deputy Coroner Lowe held an inquest over the remains Thursday and from the evidence developed the jury returned a verdict that the man had come to his death by a fall down the shaft with suicidal intent, and it was shown that he had become despondent through inability to make a living by ordinary means of labor. Some time during Thursday night burglars effected an entrance to the saloon at Hardscrabble, conducted by Frank Borsch, by breaking out one of the rear windows, and helped them selves to $4.70 from the cash register and also took some cigars and clothes belonging to the proprietor. Later on the same gang visited the home of a Mrs. Powell some distance west of the saloon and helped themselves to such eatables as they could find, and left some of the cigars they had taken from Hardscrabble. Collinsville Man Held for Murder: Edwardsville (IL) Intelligencer, August 21, 1952 Clifford James Finley, 60-year-old Collinsville laborer and ex-coal miner, was lodged in the Madison county jail as a murder charge Thursday in the shooting of his 52-year-old brother. The brother, Leslie J. Finley, a Vandalia Bus Line driver, died Wednesday night at St. Mary's Hospital, East St. Louis, after being wounded in the abdomen. The shooting occurred at the latter's home, 124 Collinsville avenue, in Collinsville. State's Attorney Austin Lewis said Clifford Finley admitted in a written statement that he shot his brother. Unable to speak because his vocal chords were removed about three months ago in an operation for cancer of the throat, the elder Finley wrote out and signed his version of the slaying, Lewis said. A murder warrant was issued by Justice of the Peace M. G. Schwartz upon a complaint signed by the state's attorney. The defendant is being held in the county jail without bond pending action of the Madison county grand jury. He said in his written statement that he had been "having trouble" with his brother since the throat operation and alleged that the brother had told him not to "come around the house" or drive by the premises. Authorities said the two men had been feuding for some time and that Leslie twice complained to police that his brother was going to kill him. Officers said he refused to swear out a warrant, however. Wednesday afternoon according to authorities, Clifford drove to the brother's home, where Leslie; his wife, Elsie; his mother-in-law, Mrs. Emma Neutzling; a stepdaughter and her small daughter were in the back yard. Leslie ran into his house, police said, followed by Clifford who has a gun. Three shots were fired into the victim's abdomen, and the .32 caliber revolver used showed five cartridges had been discharged. After the shooting, Clifford waited for the arrival of the police. Madison County, Illinois Marriage Announcements MORLENCE - HARTMAN Miss Lucille Jean Hartman and Fred Morlence were married at 11:30 o'clock Sunday morning at the Evangelical Church by Rev Kuhlman, The attendants were Miss Alberta and Albert Hartman, twin sister and bother of the bride. The couple will reside in Collinsville. Edwardsville Intelligencer, Saturday, August 10, 1929. PATEK - THOMPSON Miss Thelma Thompson and Melvin Patek were married on last Thursday at the Methodist parsonage by Rev. W. H. Poole. Miss Anna Thompson and Donald Watt served as attendants. They will reside at Collinsville. [Edwardsville Intelligencer, Saturday, August 10, 1929. Madison County, Illinois Divorce Notices Mrs. Irene Wilson of Collinsville in her suit against Earl Wilson names other women as the cause of their marital troubles. She said that she had forgiven him for his misconduct on various occasions but now refuses to do so. There are two children of which she asks custody and sufficient money to support them. Edwardsville Intelligencer, September 16, 1922. Allen Knapp of Collinsville has filed suit against Mrs. Gladys Knapp on a charge of adultery. He names another man in the bill. They were married in 1917 and resided together until this year. The husband asks permission of the 4 year old son. Frank Moser, Collinsville Man Charges Desertion. Frank Moser, Collinsville, filed suit for divorce from Mrs. Mary Moser in the circuit court here Monday, charging desertion. They were married October 16, 1920 and separated in December the same year. Moser states that his wife's last known address was Grac, Austria. Edwardsville Intelligencer, Tuesday, October 15,1940. Madison County, Illinois Legal, Administrative and Probate Notices HARRISON: The will of Mrs. Ella M. Harrison, who died at Collinsville on August 28, was admitted to probate here Monday. The petition places a value of $11,000 on the estate which is left to her husband, Dr. M. W. Harrison, mayor of Collinsville. Edwardsville Intelligencer, Tuesday, October 15, 1940. THE COLLINSVILLE HERALD 1915 CITY'S OLDEST SON.....at time of death was oldest living survivor of Native Born Collinsvillians......GEORGE W. MOFFET died at his home in St.Louis, February 28, 1915 at the age of 85 years. He was born In Collinsville, January 24, 1830 and lived here until a few years ago when he went to St.Louis to make his home with his daughter. Mr. Moffet was until his death the oldest living of anyone born in Collinsville. He was married in 1854 to Miss Sarah E. Glover also of Collinsville who died several years ago. Mr. Moffett was an uncle of George Blake, Mrs. Frank Rice, Mrs. Marjorie Hanvey and Burt Long, who with their families attended the funeral in St. Louis Tuesday. CHARLES JOSEPH MESKER...Charles Joseph Mesker who for the past ten years has been the assistant of Capt. John Schmidt at Schmidt's Mound Park, passed away Monday morning at 8 o'clock, March 1, 1915 after an illness of several months of cirrhosis of the liver. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph H. Mesker of Evansville, Ind. and had he lived until the 24th of this month, would have reached his 33rd birthday anniversary. "Charley" as he was familiarly known to a large circle of friends was well liked by park patrons for his universal good nature and his ever present courtesy. During his stay here he made many good friends who will mourn his loss. For the past few weeks his uncle, Ben Mesker, of St.Louis has been constantly at his bedside and a week ago a sister, Mrs. Robert E. Korb visited him on her way to San Antonio. Since then his mother was with him to the end and left Tuesday morning with the remains for Evansville, where interment took place on Wednesday. Besides those mentioned there are surviving also, a sister, Mrs. R.R.Boner and a younger brother Clarence, living at Evansville. DOROTHY LUNDAK....Dorothy, the year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs.Tony Lundak died Thursday of bronchitis. Funeral will be held Sunday afternoon from the home at 1117 William street, interment being the Lutheran cemetery. FRANK KALINA...Frank Kalina, died at his home on Vandalia street Friday morning, March 5, at 4 o'clock of diabetes after an illness of three years, at the age of 58 years and 4 months. He was born in Collinsville, the son of Mr.and Mrs. Jos. Kalina and for practically all his active life followed his trade as barber. He leaves two daughters, both grown besides four brothers, Joseph, Charles, John and Louis, and two sisters , Mrs. Josie Phelps and Mrs. Annie Bow. He was a member of the Barbers Union and Modern Woodmen. Funeral will Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock, interment at Glenwood. NIGGER HOLLOW FATALITY.....Frank DeLorine of caseyville was killed in No. 2 Nigger Hollow mine this morning at 11 o'clock by being run down by a motor and string of empties. Remains were removed to Belleville for inquest. Deceased was 42 years old. He is survived by a widow and one child and an aged mother. His brother, Joseph DeLorine is clerk of Caseyville Township. View the latest YouTube Videos

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