Days Gone By In Staunton

Thursday, Aug. 9, 1923 -- BENLD MEN GIVE BOND -- Frank Senick, whose automobile struck and killed Arthur Dick of our city, on Wednesday gave bond in the sum of $2500 signed by Dominic Tarro and Frank Enrico. Senick is to await the action of the grand jury in September, the charge against him being manslaughter.

John Moody, George Talbert and Victor Nichett, also of Benld, gave bond in the sum of $1,000 each to appear before the grand jury in September. They are the men with whom Mrs. Turk was riding when she jumped from their automobile and they are charged with disorderly conduct. The woman s still a patient at the St. Francis Hospital, where it is said her condition is critical.

Thursday, Aug. 16, 1923 -- MET WITH ACCIDENT -- Mrs.Waijulis of Wilsonville on Saturday had an experience which she will probably remember for some little time. She was on her way from Williamson to Wilsonville driving a Chevrolet sedan, and in the car with her were a boy and a young lady. As they approached the L. & M. crossing south of Staunton Mrs. Waijulis suddenly noticed an approaching train and realizing that it would be impossible for her to cross, she swung the car to one side, landing in the ditch. The boy was thrown against one of the windows of the automobile and cut about the face by broken glass, but Mrs. Waijulis and the other lady escaped injury. The car was damaged somewhat, the front axle being bent, etc. Word was sent to Staunton and a local physician dressed the lad's injuries and one of our garage men took charge of the car. The accident terminated fortunately indeed and might very easily have had much more serious results.

LANEY PURSLOW IS ELECTROCUTED -- Staunton Young Man Met Death Near Granite City Friday -- Laney Purslow of our city on Friday afternoon at about 2:55 o'clock was electrocuted while working as a lineman in the employ of the Illinois Traction System at Barco Siding near Granite City.

According to reports given of the accident by co-workers, Purslow was working on a "dead" wire up on a pole. On either side of him were signal wires and below him was a "live" wire. It is presumed that in swinging the dead wire, it touched the live one, thus forming a circuit and the charge passed through his body. Fellow workmen heard him scream and rushed to his assistance. After cutting the wires the body was brought to the ground where vain efforts were made to revive the young man. A physician who was summoned to the scene pronounced him dead.

Laney Purslow was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Purslow and was born at Staunton on Jan. 5, 1901. After completing the course at the local public schools he took up the vocation of an electrician and since September of the past year had been in the employ of the Illinois Traction System. The young man's father on Oct. 6, 1920, died of burns sustained in an oil well fire in Texas.

Funeral services were held Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the family home at 217 E. North Street, Rev. Floyd W. Johnston officiating. Interment was at the Staunton City Cemetery. Those left to cherish his memory are: The mother, Mrs. Walter Purslow; two sisters, Mrs. Howard Wyatt of East St. Louis and Miss Jessie Purslow at home, besides many more distant relatives and friends. The family has the sincere sympathy of the community in their hour of bereavement.

STAGE HOLD-UP AT ELITE PARK -- Five Men Rob Resort Early Monday Morning and Get Away -- Elite Park, a road house on the hard road between Staunton and Benld, Monday morning at 5 o'clock was held up by a party of five men and a considerable sum of cash stolen.

Reports of the occurrence are to the effect that five men visited the place at least an hour prior to the time of the hold-up and participated in the amusements in progress at the time. They spent money freely and appeared anxious to enjoy themselves. The man in charge of the resort became suspicious of the quintet after they had been in the place for a time and went out to look at the license number on their automobile. The number was Illinois 269-979 and was issued to J. Norris,105 Haynes Street, Peoria, for an Interstate car.

Evidently figuring that they were sufficiently familiar with the "lay of the land" the fellows at about five o'clock produced revolvers and ordered the proprietor and others in the place at the time to "stick 'em up" Their order was complied with and the thieves cleaned out the cash register and are said to have relieved some of the patrons of their money as well. The amount of their loot is reported at $700.

The fellows made their get-away and a short time later a machine full of Springfield men were arrested at Carlinville, suspected of the crime, but when the proprietor of the Park went to look them over, he found that they were not the guilty parties and they were released. Up to the present time the robbers have not been apprehended.

FIRE DEPARTMENT ADDITION -- Work on the addition to the City Hall, which is being built for the purpose of providing quarters for the new fire engine, is progressing nicely and the structure will soon be under roof. The building is 20x40 feet and of this the front portion will be used for the storage of the engine and the remainder, a room of 16x20, will be utilized as headquarters for the members of the Staunton Volunteer Fire Department. The boys are anxiously looking forward to the time when the building is completed so that they may have a home of their own.

GAS WAR ON; PUBLIC BENEFITS -- Old Mister High Cost of Living himself received a severe jolt Tuesday when the Standard Oil Co. (Indiana) announced a reduction of 6.6 cents per gallon on the price of gasoline, "to meet competition." The price in Staunton had been 22.8 cents per gallon and the new price now is 16.2 cents. Happy days.

L. V. Nicholas, head of the National Petroleum Marketers Assn., immediately following the Standard announcement, instructed independent dealers to reduce prices 5 cents per gallon. He said: "A cut of more than 5c is unfair and ruinous. A cut of 6.6c is as much out of line one way as the present price is the other."

Just how long the public will enjoy the benefits of these low prices is problematical.