Days Gone By In Staunton

Thursday, Oct. 18, 1923 -- GETS STIFF SENTENCE -- Mike Martinovich of our city on Friday was given a fine of $400 and sentenced to four months in the McLean County jail by Judge FitzHenry in the Federal court at Springfield. "Big Mike" as he is known in this vicinity, was charged with violation of the national prohibition law.

WRITES ABOUT STAUNTON'S ROADS -- The Star-Times is in receipt of a letter from A.B. Ellison, Jr., manager of the service department of the Automobile Club of Missouri, in which Mr. Ellison calls attention to the condition of the road through Staunton, connecting up the two hard roads. A copy of the letter is enclosed, and is as follows:

Gentlemen:

I had occasion not long ago to drive from here to Carlinville. The road through Staunton and Gillespie is certainly a fright I am wondering if you couldn't take the matter up with the Highway Commissioners of Illinois and see if you couldn't find a way to loan a grader and steam roller and let the Automobile Club make a subscription to help fix up the streets through these two towns if they cannot afford to do so.

No doubt the Chicago Auto Club will co-operate with you and also the Clubs of Springfield, Illinois, as well as the Chamber of Commerce at Carlinville, Edwardsville and Springfield. This would be a real service if you could do anything along this line."

Mr. Ellison, in his letter, states that if the people of this community have any suggestions to offer regarding the improvement of the road, the Club will be glad to give the matter their consideration.

MANY PEOPLE VISIT STAUNTON TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF BARGAINS -- The Special Fall Opening Days, conducted by the merchants of Staunton on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, proved to be a pleasing success. Buyers from the surrounding territory visited our city in considerable numbers and as a consequence business was brisk in the establishments of all the participating merchants. The bargains offered were genuine and all who came to take advantage of them were amply rewarded in the money they saved.

This was the second co-operative merchandising event the merchants of Staunton have put on in the past several months and its success demonstrated what may be accomplished when all get together and work for the general good of the community.

POISON BOOZE KILLS SIX -- Six men died at Pana Thursday and three others are seriously ill as a result of drinking poisoned booze which the men purchased at a saloon. "Fuel oil poisoning from beverage," was given as the cause of death in the jury's verdict. The booze was bought at a place operated by a man by the name of Tokoly and he is being held by the authorities.

Thursday, Oct. 25, 1923 -- BENLD IN SPOT LIGHT AGAIN -- Benld on Saturday night again broke into the lime light when a crap game in the home of William Senich was held up. John Crowe, an alleged gangster from St. Louis and John "Red" Wolfe of Benld were arrested by the officers, charged with the hold-up. The thieves, it is said, secured $750 from Senich. Officers from the sheriff's office during the past several weeks have made so many raids on crap games in Benld that the games have been transferred from the so called soft drink parlors to private homes. The Benld police caught the hold-up men and turned them over to the deputy sheriffs when they arrived.

FIND ABANDONED CARS -- Chief of Police Safko of our city during the past week has found three abandoned automobiles in this vicinity. One of these was found on Wednesday of the past week on South Hackman street in our city, where it was stuck in the ditch. This car was a Chevrolet touring car and is almost new. It carried Illinois license number 543-135, and according to the records this license was issued to John Nader of Lake Villa, Ill. All indications point to the fact that the car is stolen property.

On Friday a Dodge touring car was found on the Staunton-Mt. Olive road, a short distance this side of Mt. Olive. No license plates were on the car and it appeared to have been hard used.

Still, another car, a Studebaker, was abandoned on the road south of Mt. Olive. There were no license plates on this machine and it was probably abandoned due to engine trouble, as the officers who found the car were unable to start it.

BUS LINE IN SUIT -- On Friday of next week the Benld-Wilsonville Bus line, of which John Calcari of Gillespie is proprietor, will be defendant in a suit filed by the Illinois Traction System to prevent the bus line from carrying passengers in the territory served by the electric.

The McKinley people last week secured an injunction against the bus line and this week appeared before Judge Burton to learn why the busses were still in operation, declaring that the action was in contempt of court. It was shown, however, that Mr. Calcari had leased his busses and drivers to the Staunton-Livingston Motor Transportation Co., who have a certificate of convenience and necessity and the busses will therefore continue to operate regardless of the injunction.

MINE NO. 2 HEADS THE LIST -- County Mine Inspector Thos. Cunningham of Madison county last week made public his report for the past year and from the figures contained therein we note that the No. 2 mine of the Mt. Olive & Staunton Coal Co. heads the list of production, having hoisted a total of 787,792 tons. They also lead the county in the number of days worked, their shaft having been in operation 212 days, which in view of conditions in the coal industry generally is indeed a very fine record.

The New Staunton Coal Co. mine at Livingston is second with a tonnage of 599,885 and working 141 days. Old No. 1 mine of the Mt. Olive & Staunton Coal Co. operated 178 days and produced 205,906 tons, and these three mines won for Olive township the distinction of being the leading coal producing township in Madison county with a tonnage of 1,593,643.

Collinsville township with her seven mines is second with a tonnage of 1,289,825 and Edwardsville township with six mines, ranks third, having 867,435 tons.

The report also shows that in Olive township 1573 men follow mining as a vocation; in Collinsville township there are 1503 and in Edwardsville township 1067. During the year seven fatal accidents occured and 213 men sustained injuries. The record made by No. 2 mine is one of which Staunton people are quite proud as a large number of our residents work at this shaft.