100 years ago: Auto club fights back against roadside ‘Kangaroo Courts’
100 years ago, Sept. 3, 1925
As a preliminary step of protest to discontinue the practice of holding what is known as Kangaroo Courts along the state highways, such as has been in vogue on the Lincoln Trail, west of this city, the St. Clair County Automobile Club fired the opening gun last week when it started to gather evidence and following this up by placing the matter before the Secretary of State.
The action resulted after about 60 automobile drivers were caught in a “trap” established on the Trail between this city and East St. Louis two weeks ago and the autoists were fined after being tried at a Kangaroo Court, which had been established on the roadside by a state automobile inspector. The club has filed a protest against the Kangaroo Court and other practices, which they deem unfair in arresting motorists for violating the dimming and cutout laws and is gathering evidence in the nature of affidavits, which will be used to carry on the investigation.
One of the most vigorous protests in the hands of the club is that of C. J. Posey, of Lawrence, Kans., one of the victims of the roadside court. According to the affidavit of Posey he was driving from O’Fallon into East St. Louis and as a matter of courtesy dimmed his lights to approaching cars. With heavy traffic that night the Kansan claims it required about one-half hour to make the trip to Edgemont, where approaching cars came in such numbers that he discontinued dimming the lights as other motorists were traveling with glaring headlights.
He claims he had not gone more than 100 feet when he was stopped by an officer and told to go back and tell it to the judge.
“I was compelled to turn my car around on the pavement on either side of which were banisters and made to go behind a building in which a “Kangaroo Court” was being held, said Posey. “I was asked why I did not dim my lights to the officer and I said I did not know the officer was approaching. I was next asked if I wanted to plead guilty or not guilty. I said I would plead not guilty. The judge, Carl Jerome, then said I would have to sign a bond of $200. I asked him when the trial would be and he said in about ten days to which I replied that I would not be in the State ten days. I agree to plead guilty as I did not want to remain ten days and my fine was $6.40 which I paid.”
In filing the protest the automobile club sets forth that the majority of autoists are not flagrant law violators and that tourists should be (given) consideration before fines are assessed, especially on the dimming of lights. Also that arrests should be handled through regularly instituted courts instead of improvised courts, such as has been the case west of here.
75 years ago, Aug. 31, 1950
After a long span of years as publisher and editor of The O’Fallon Progress, we now announce to our many readers and staunch friends that this is the last issue under present ownership.
A deal was consummated yesterday in which M. F. Kuehn, the publisher, sold the business to Irwin A. Yare, of East St. Louis. The new owner will take full charge Friday, Sept. 1.
After being associated with newspaper work for 49 years, of which more than 33 years was as publisher and editor of The Progress, we have decided, with reluctance, to retire in favor of younger and more aggressive hands, believing this move will be for the best interest of the community as well as our own.
However we will not retire from work, having decided to continue with the new management by taking charge of the mechanical department of the plant for the present. In introducing Mr. Yare as our successor we have every reason to believe that he will give O’Fallon the kind of newspaper it deserves as he is an experienced newspaperman.
Mr. Yare, a native of East St. Louis, was born 36 years ago. He attended the East St. Louis public schools and is a graduate of East St. Louis High, class of 1931. He attended Washington University, St. Louis, entering the newspaper field on the old St. Louis Star as local sports correspondent. From 1935 to 1945 he was employed as a general reporter on the East St. Louis Journal and then became East St. Louis correspondent for the St. Louis Globe-Democrat.
While on the latter newspaper he established The Reporter, a legal record weekly which, in association with his wife, they have published for the past five years. They will continue with this paper, expecting to print this here in connection with the publishing of The Progress.
Mrs. Yare is the former Dorothy Hicks, also of East St. Louis. They have two daughters, 8 years and 17 months old.
In retiring, and before closing our “Swan Song” we take this opportunity to express appreciation to the business men, subscribers and citizens, for only through their cooperation have we been enabled to continue publication of The Progress which has been an O’Fallon institution for more than 55 years. -- M. F. Kuehn, Publisher.
50 years ago, Sept. 4, 1975
Spraying was scheduled to begin Wednesday evening for mosquitoes to prevent spread of the bug-spread encephalitis sleeping sickness. Dave Davis, city engineer, said Tuesday evening that city workers were ready to begin spraying Wednesday. The mosquito spray will help to curtail the spread of the disease which has been reported as near as Belleville.
Robert Lillie, chairman of the Health and Safety Committee, said a homemade mosquito spray formula has been made available from the Illinois Department of Public Health. A number two fuel oil can be used on standing water to prevent the growth of larvae in the water where mosquitoes breed and grow.
For a hand spray, three different chemicals can be used to spray against adult mosquitoes. They are: four tablespoons of malathion to a gallon of water; four tablespoons of sevin (carbaryl) to a gallon of water; or four teaspoons of methoxychlor to a gallon of water.
A total of 90 cases of the sleeping sickness have been reported in Illinois as of Tuesday. The public health department is warning all residents to stay indoors after dark when the disease carrying bugs bite.
High weeds and standing water should be eliminated since mosquitoes breed in these areas. The mosquito picks up the disease after biting a bird carrying the encephalitis virus. The disease is then transmitted to the human when the mosquito bites him.