Iowa Old Press

LeMars Sentinel, Tuesday, November 2, 1920

MISSING MAN BACK
WILLIAM PRATT, O'LEARY STOREKEEPER RETURNS.
DOES NOT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED

Left Home Over Three Weeks Ago and Had a Number of Experiences
Traveling Over The Country, Which He Can Only Partially Recall

William Pratt, the storekeeper at O'Leary, who disappeared mysteriously four
weeks ago has been found. The Sioux City Journal of yesterday has the
following story about him:

Members of the Sioux City police force were somewhat puzzled by a man, who,
apparently suffering from amnesia, last night approached Patrolman Patrick
Barrett at Sixth and Pearl streets and told the officer that he did not know
his name or where he came from. He asserts he was unable to recall anything
that had happened prior to the last few weeks.

He was taken to the police station and was asked many questions by members
of the department. A search of his clothes disclosed $23, a 21-jewel
Hamilton watch and a billfold. In the billfold an identification card bore
the name of William Pratt, LeMars, Ia., and Hazel Pratt, of LeMars, as an
emergency address. Councilman J. B. Mann telephoned Hugh Maxwell, sheriff
of Plymouth county, who said the description of the man fitted that of
William Pratt, O'Leary, Ia., grocer, who mysteriously disappeared on
Saturday, October 9.

A short time later he was identified as Pratt by J. H. McArthur, of Sioux
City, an old friend of the family. He failed to recognize McArthur and when
asked said he had never seen him before. Mr. McArthur asserted he helped
Pratt with some work on the farm that Pratt operated before going into the
grocery business. McArthur also declared Pratt purchased $12,000 worth of
Midland Packing company stock, and that when that company went into the
hands of the receivers it probably affected his mind.

In telling his story to the police, Pratt said he "came to" in a box car in
Brighton, Colo., a short distance from Denver. He asserted he was lying in
a pool of blood and felt a pain in the back of his head. He left Denver and
went to Bayard, Neb., where he worked for a time in a beet sugar factory.
He declared he received his pay under the name of "Bill Bell." He was
advised to go to Sioux City in the hope that he might meet someone there
whom he knew.

He boarded what he thought was a Sioux City bound freight train and after a
long ride on the rods of a freight car he found himself in El Paso, Tex. He
arrived in Sioux City aboard a Burlington freight train yesterday afternoon.
He walked about the streets for several hours and when he failed to
recognize anything in the city he decided to seek aid from the police.

A .38 caliber policeman's special Colt revolver with Detective Edward
Becker's name engraved on it was found in a suit case which he carried
during his travels. He said he did not know where he came in possession of
the gun. He found it in a holster inside his shirt when he regained his
senses. The billfold was lying along side of him. The suit case was sent
from Scotts Bluff, Neb., to Bayard on October 14. This was discovered by an
American Express company address label tax pasted on the grip. Seat checks
for a Denver theater were found in the billfold.

Since regaining his senses he has been unable to read and write. He at
first was unable to talk. He said he drew $30 for working in Bayard. He is
now being held in jail for safe keeping. Sheriff Maxwell will take the man
to LeMars today.

Pratt, it is said, started for Sioux City on October 9 with a truck load of
produce. When he failed to return in the evening Mrs. Pratt became alarmed
and instituted a search. The truck was found north of Leeds with a pool of
blood nearby, but Pratt had disappeared.

Following his mysterious disappearance an involuntary petition of bankruptcy
was filed against him in federal court by the Warfield-Pratt-Howell company,
of Sioux City. The company also asked that a receiver be appointed for his
property.

The Floyd river was dragged in an effort to find his body.

Obituary:
     The death of Mrs. Jos. Hughes took place on Wednesday morning at 8
o'clock at her home near Fedora, S. D., following an illness of
pneumonia.  Mildred Mae Schrooten was born in Plymouth county, Iowa on
May 9, 1890 and at the time of her death was 30 years, 5 months and 18
days of age.  She was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Schrooten, of
LeMars, Iowa, where she attended the public schools and graduated from
Western Union college.  She was a successful school teacher for three
years in this county.  On February 14, 1910 she was united in marriage
to Joe Hughes, of LeMars.  They moved to Fedora, S. D., where she lived
until called by death.
     Mildred Hughes was a devoted wife and loving mother, a kind friend
and neighbor.  She leaves to mourn her early death her husband, two
sons, Giles, age seven, Arnold, age 5 years, her father and mother,
three sisters and three brothers, who are Mrs. David Carpenter and
Allan, of Fedora, Arnold, of Roswell, Mrs. Mart Wecker, of Merrill,
Iowa, Rolden and Marvel, at home.  Six brothers of the bereaved husband
acted as pall bearers.
     The funeral was held on Friday morning at 10 o'clock from St.
Nickolas church at Roswell, Rev. Father Avery officiating.
     The relatives who attended the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. Arnold
Schrooten, Mr. and Mrs. S. P. Hughes, Mr. and Mrs. Leo Hughes, Tom, Phil
and Bernard Hughes, of LeMars, Mrs. Mart Wecker, of Merrill, Mrs. Roy
Orner, of Parker, S. D., Mrs. Mary E. Hughes, who cared for her duirng
her last illness and death.

JOHN HOEKSTRA IS DEAD
Was An Early Settler in This Part of the Country

Mr. John Hoekstra, Sr., died at his home south of Maurice Saturday after an
illness of but twenty four hours duration.  He was in his usual health
Friday and drove to the school house in the afternoon to get his little
daughter, Marie, and Friday evening he was stricken with paralysis and lived
till Saturday evening when he passed to the great beyond.  Mr. John Hoekstra
was born in the Netherlands, 61 years ago.  He came to this country at an
early age and settled near LeMars.  A few years ago he moved to the farm
south of Maurice where he was living at the time of his death.  He leaves to
mourn his loss, his wife and four sons, John, Gerrit, Gerhardus and George
and his adopted daughter, Marie.  The funeral was conducted Tuesday
afternoon from the First Reformed church by Rev. DePree of Sioux Center.
Interment took place in the Sherman township cemetery.  A number of
relatives from Edgerton, Minn., and Dakota came to attend the funeral.

LeMars Sentinel, Friday, November 5, 1920, Page 1, Column 6:

DID NOT KNOW WIFE
Memory of Many Things Seems to Be Lacking

Sioux City Journal: The man who appeared to members of the police force
Sunday night to tell him his own name was positively identified Monday as
William Pratt, the O'Leary merchant, who mysteriously disappeared from his
home on Saturday, October 9. The identification was made by his wife, his
mother-in-law, Mrs. John Begg and his brother-in-law, John Begg, who arrived
in Sioux City from LeMars. They had been notified of the presence in the
city of the man thought to be Pratt by Sheriff Hugh Maxwell, of Plymouth
county.

When questioned by them Pratt did not recognize his relatives and denied
ever having known people with those names. He also denied having at any
time been in Sioux City, although he is known to have been here on numerous
occasions. He seemed to have only a hazy recollection of what happened
since he "came to" in a box car in Brighton, Colo., a short distance from
Denver. His memory of what transpired since he appeared to the police
appeared to be reasonably clear.

Upon the request of Mrs. Pratt, Dr. J. P. Sheahy, police surgeon, was called
to examine her husband. He declared there was no evidence of bodily
injuries. According to Dr. Sheahy, the present condition of Pratt known to
the medical profession as amnesia, had been brought on by worrying over
recent financial losses. He is said to have lost $10,000 in the collapse of
the Alfalfa Cereal and Milling company. In the opinion of the physician,
Pratt will recover his memory within a few weeks with proper rest.

He was removed to the Jackson hotel with his relatives to await the arrival
of a brother, Wesley Pratt, of Kingsley, Ia. On the arrival of his brother
it was decided to take Pratt away on the train that left at 3:10 for LeMars.
Mrs. Pratt made her home with her mother at LeMars since the disappearance
of her husband. He requested that he be taken to LeMars.

It is said that a neighbor of Pratt saw him in an enclosed automobile
accompanied by two men on the Monday following his disappearance. The car
was traveling toward Kingsley. Pratt was said to have been sitting with his
head bowed in a manner which attracted attention. It was only because the
neighbor had no knowledge of the mysterious disappearance of his friend that
he did not follow the car.

Relatives of Pratt had given up hopes of seeing him alive, and were only
waiting for some word regarding what had happened to him.

LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel

November 26, 1920

SUIT IS CONTESTED

SENSATIONAL DIVORCE CASE IS TRIED IN COURT.

CUSTODY OF CHILDREN IN DISPUTE

Wife Against Whom Husband Instituted Proceedings is Seeking a Share of the Property—Court and Grand Jury Adjourn Until Monday

Court and Grand Jury Adjourn Until Monday.

The divorce case of George Beaulieu, a well known Liberty township farmer against his wife, Laura Beaulieu, was brought up for trial Tuesday and at the time of going to press is still going on. Beaulieu is seeking a separation on statutory grounds, claiming his wife has been unduly intimate with other men. Beaulieu wants the custody of their three minor children: Gladys, aged 12, Stephen and Bernard, aged respectively 10 and 8 years old, and seeks to deprive his wife of any property rights. Mrs. Beaulieu is contesting the suit and is seeking the custody of the daughter and a share of the property. About twenty witnesses have been called in the case, and a large number of spectators are occupying seats in the court room listening to the testimony and allegations, some of which are salacious. Beaulieu last summer started criminal action against one of the alleged co-respondents and then withdrew the charge and made a public apology through the newspapers. Testimony was introduced to show that Mrs. Beaulieu had stopped at hotels in Sioux City and Marshall, Minn., with different men. Mrs. Beaulieu in her testimony denied these charges.

In the district court on Tuesday, Mrs. Rose Novinsky was granted divorce from her husband, Wm. Novinsky, on the ground of desertion and given the custody of two minor children, Rebecca and Alice. The parties in suit were married in Russia in 1906 and subsequently came to Plymouth county. He deserted her in 1912.

The grand jury had not finished its work on Wednesday, being delayed on account of waiting for witnesses, and adjourned until Monday, when they will make a report. Judge Bradley adjourned court on Wednesday evening until Monday.

POPULAR PAIR WED
MISS ALICE LEVINS AND HARVEY OBERMIRE MARRIED
-----
KENTUCKIAN WINS LE MARS BRIDE
MISS CATHERINE KELLIHER AND BERNARD ABEL ARE UNITED IN MARRIAGE ON TUESDAY
AT ST. JAMES CHURCH—WILL LIVE IN CINCINNATI.

A pretty wedding took place at the St. James church on Tuesday morning when
Miss Catherine A. Kelliher and Bernard H. Abel were united in marriage. The
ceremony which was performed by Rev. Father E. O’Farrell, was witnessed by
relatives and a few intimate friends. The bride was attired in a most
becoming dress of blue tricotine, with fur coatee and hat and gloves to
match. Following the ceremony at the church, the bridal party drove to the
home of Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Krier, where a four course wedding breakfast was
served. The decorations were pink and white, the chosen colors of the
bride, and chrysanthemums and autumn flowers were effective in the pretty
surroundings. A five o’clock dinner was given in honor of the young people
at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ben Heller, in Marion township, where the chosen
bridal colors made effective decorations.

Mr. and Mrs. Abel left in the evening on a honeymoon trip south and will be
at home after December 15, at 1417 West Ohio street, Indianapolis.

The bride is a daughter of James Kelliher of this city, and was born and
grew up here, and is a young woman of many accomplishments and very popular.
Mr. Abel, whose home is at St. Joseph, Kentucky, came here a few years ago
and has been employed on farms and at the automobile business. He made a
number of friends, while living here, and is a progressive young man and has
a pleasing personality.
-----
A very pretty church wedding was held on Wednesday morning, November 24, at
St. James church when Alice M. Levins, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank
Levins, became the bride of Harvey Obermire, so of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph
Obermire. Rev. Father Edward O’Farrell officiated at the nuptial mass. The
bride was becomingly dressed in a tailor made suit of brown with accessories
to match. She was attended by her sister, Miss Jennie Levins, who was also
dressed in a brown suit with hat and gloves to match. The bridegroom was
attended by his brother, Martin Obermire. Following the ceremony, the
wedding party drove to the home of the bride’s parents on Washington street,
where a three course wedding breakfast was served. The tables were prettily
decorated in pink and white and with autumn flowers.

Mr. and Mrs. Obermire left for a trip to Waterloo and Chicago and on their
return will make their home on the Ralph Obermire farm, one mile south of
LeMars.

The bride and groom are members of old steeler families and have lived here
all their lives and have a large circle of friends and acquaintances and are
popular members of the younger set.