He registered Monday.
On this same expedition we stopped to see the Lutheran minister as private citizens, and told him that the people of Jasper County wanted no more German preaching and no more German teaching in the schools; also they would like to see Old Glory floating from the mast-head. We told him also that this was the last time that he would be notified. In about three hours we returned that way and stopped again. Old Glory was floating at the mast-head; the German school books had disappeared, and there has been no more German teaching nor preaching.
Second Case: The Local Board gave the name of Harrison L——, who had registered in Carrolton, Green County, Illinois, but had not reported for physical examination at Rensselaer. He was living with his parents nine miles south of this city, and he should have reported to the Local Board of Rensselaer for physical examination. I went out as a deputy sheriff to find out the reason why. I first called at the post office at McCoysburt, where they got their mail, and found that he had received his card calling him for examination. I then drove out to the farm and found the young man, and he claimed that he had not received the card. I finally told him that he would have to go with me. He replied that he would have to see his father. We went out into the cornfield where Mr. L—— was picking corn, and when I told him my business, he exploded. He called Mr. Wilson a Czar, and the United States Government almost everything he could lay his tongue to, and then I asked: “Mr. L——, what are you, a German? About five more words of your talk and I will take you along, too.” He had no more to say of a violent nature, but evidently felt very hostile.
I brought the boy in. He passed the physical examination and was placed in Class I. I told him that probably he would be called to entrain in June. I tried to get him to tell me whether or not he would be here to entrain, and he said: “Yes, sure, I have learned my lesson and will be in.”
In the meantime, Mr. L——, Sr., had been talking wildly and saying that he would rather see his son dead than in the Army of the United States. He also said that if anybody came out to get his son and make him go over there and fight the rich man’s battles, they would have to take him over his dead body.
I finally got in touch with Mr. P——, whose son married L——’s daughter. He went over to see L—— and told him that if the boy was not in by nine o’clock on the day of entrainment, the officers would have to come after him. L—— replied that if they did come out there, he had a double-barreled shot-gun loaded with buck-shot and would let the first man that stepped on the place have it.
Nine o’clock the next morning I took one of my operatives and a good 30-30 rifle and went out there; drove in the gate as fast as I could make it, and caught the old gentleman in the barn.
L—— had mislaid his shot-gun, but his wife found it, and was approaching him with it. After quite a tussle, we convinced Mrs. L—— that she had no use for a gun, and I took it away from her.
In the meantime their loyal, patriotic son had started for Monon, about six miles from the farm, to get some mower repairs. I left my operative on the premises, and started after young L—— in the car. I found him about three miles from the farm, jogging along with his thoughts dwelling on the hardships of war. I stopped him and told him he would have to go with me, and he said: “Well, what will I do with the horse and buggy.” I replied that that was not worrying me, that I wanted him. He tied the horse to the fence, and I took him in the car and went back to the farm. I told him that if he would go like a man, I would give him five minutes to change his clothes and get in the car and go with me to entrain.
He was ready in three minutes and thirty-five seconds. I took him to Fort Benjamin Harrison and turned him over to the Provost Marshal. This man was inducted into the Army, and has been in France shooting Huns.