100 years ago: O’Fallon officer fires shots to stop driver who ran a stop sign

100 years ago, Sept. 24, 1925

The first arrest in O’Fallon since the boulevard stop law went into effect, which requires a complete stop before crossing a state highway, was made Sunday evening when Officer J. E. Tiley arrested John A. Nelson, of Glen Carbon.

Officer Tiley was on south Lincoln avenue when his attention was attracted by the roar of an automobile coming in on the Shiloh road. A short time later the car hove in sight and without slowing up crossed over the trail (Highway 50) and passed into the city limits, continuing north at a fast clip until the large holes in Lincoln avenue caused the driver to slow up.

Tiley jumped into his trusty old Henry and gave chase, which was noticed by the speedy driver, who started to “step on ‘er”, working his way through the traffic at the State street intersection and continuing north. At this corner Tiley was blocked by another car which was proceeding east on State but the officer watched the fleeing motorist as he made for the northern city limits. He continued the chase until the Klein hill was reached, where the police car passed it and the man was commanded to halt.

During the chase officer Tiley fired several shots but these only caused greater speed on the part of the fleeing driver.

After being placed under arrest the Glen Carbon man thought the matter could be settled without going to court by bribing the officer who replied that up to now all his cases had been settled according to law and that this would be no exception. Nelson, and two other men who were riding with him, were brought to this city and the former was locked up.

Justice Earl E. Asbury was summoned and the court went into session at which Nelson pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to make a boulevard stop and was fined $5.00 and costs, the fine amounting to $8.40. Nelson paid up and departed with a parting remark that State highways will remain in his mind before he crosses another ribbon of concrete pavement.

75 years ago, Sept. 21, 1950

The owners and an employee of Schwarz Furniture Store narrowly missed being injured one day last week when an inside chimney collapsed, showering bricks and mortar into the store.

Three bedroom suites were damaged by the accident. Living quarters above the store occupied by Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Glenn was showered by dust but no serious damage was done to the apartment.

Glenn, his partner, Clarence Lurtz and the office employee of the store, Miss Gene Thomas, were in the store the morning of the crash when the chimney collapsed. Workmen were working on the outside of the building when the crash came.

The store was located at 225 W. First in Downtown O’Fallon in what is now the Fezziwig’s building.

50 years ago, Sept. 25, 1975

The Auto and Home Discount Center, 1701 West Highway 50, was looted last Monday evening.

A total of $1,639.21 worth of items were taken from the store. Locks were broken on the store’s overhead rear door for the burglars to gain entrance to the store. A transformer in the store’s burglar alarm system burned out and failed to alert authorities.

Among the items stolen were watches, radios, cigarettes, a car stereo, wheels, citizen band radios, battery chargers and clothing.

The business was popularly known as The Green Store because the exterior was painted green.