Robert Paul Prager was a German immigrant who was lynched in the United States during World War I as a result of anti-German sentiment.
22 Facts About Robert Prager
2.
Robert Prager had worked as a baker in southern Illinois and then as a laborer in a coal mine, settling in Collinsville, a center of mining.
3.
Rumors were that Robert Prager held socialist beliefs, which were considered suspect at the time.
4.
Robert Paul Prager was born in Dresden, Germany on February 28,1888.
5.
Robert Prager emigrated to the United States in 1905, at the age of 17.
6.
Robert Prager registered for the draft and tried to enlist in the US Navy.
7.
When his St Louis landlord objected, Robert Prager reported him to the police.
8.
Robert Prager was rejected by the Navy due to medical reasons.
9.
Robert Prager first took a job baking for an Italian baker named Lorenzo Bruno.
10.
In early 1918, Robert Prager learned of the high wartime wages that miners were earning and began working in a laborer's position at the Donk Brothers Coal and Coke Co.
11.
Robert Prager was angered to have been rejected by Local 1802 and losing his job.
12.
Robert Prager denied accusations that he was a German sympathizer.
13.
Soon the group told Robert Prager to come out first and kiss the flag to show his patriotism.
14.
Robert Prager was told to remove his shoes; wrapped in the flag and barefoot, he was paraded along Main Street in Collinsville past numerous saloons where miners and other working men were drinking.
15.
The mob forced Robert Prager to walk west on Main Street and the St Louis Road, beating and harassing him.
16.
Robert Prager had to sing patriotic songs and kiss the flag.
17.
Robert Prager found a length of manila rope in one of the cars, and announced that Prager should hang.
18.
Robert Prager was allowed to write a last note to his parents in Dresden, Germany:.
19.
Robert Prager was hanged in front of a mob of 100 to 200 people, mostly men, at about 12:30 am on April 5,1918.
20.
Robert Prager's death was first investigated by Madison County Coroner Roy Lowe.
21.
Robert Prager gave a full account to a reporter from the St Louis Post-Dispatch.
22.
Robert Prager had not been charged with any crime when taken into custody.