IL IL - Walter Donley, Peoria, 1 June 1943 - Page 4

Eridanus · #76 02-14-2013, 03:54 PM

Standreid, did you ever get to Ancestry.com? I've got a membership and could help you if you haven't.

STANDREID · #77 02-14-2013, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eridanus

Standreid, did you ever get to Ancestry.com? I've got a membership and could help you if you haven't.

No I haven't - any help would be appreciated if you get the time.

Eridanus · #78 02-14-2013, 08:32 PM

I looked up Claudin's WWI and WWII draft cards on Ancestry.com. Here's what I got:

1917-1918
No. 3 Terminal Bartondale? (terrible handwriting)
Peoria, IL

WWII era:
110 S. Bourland
Peoria

Hope this helps.

STANDREID · #79 02-14-2013, 09:26 PM

Thanks much! I think that Bourland address is a business area now - possibly a service station.

MrsTigglesworth · #80 02-15-2013, 09:10 AM

Hi Folks! Nice to meet you all

I'd love to join in on the search for what happened to Walter! I found a little bit on Ancestry and will recap in this post and then more about the criminal records in the next post. Let me know if there is anything in particular that needs looked up and I will try

WD Sr. was in Peoria since around 1893 living on Armstrong Ave since around 1900/1903. WD Jr was living with him most of the time except for the 1930 census when he was living with his wife MD and daughter with a family from Ohio. (BC and EC). Even in the 1940 census, just released, he is shown with his Father, brother, wife, daughter and maid. He is also listed with them in 1942 at the Armstrong address in city directories.

His official date of birth from draft registration cards (both) is Oct 15, 1896
Most records show it closer to 1898/1899
He worked at 1144 Jefferson Blvd, Peoria in 1942 (from draft card)
He married M probably around 1827 or so

The tree that says he is related to a Carrithers is referring to the 1920 census. From that tree, WD's sister had a son in law with that name and he is living with the Donley family in 1920.

All references are my interpretation from historical records which are pretty reliable, but subject to human error.

MrsTigglesworth · #81 02-15-2013, 09:34 AM

This is what I found in newspaper articles regarding the stolen 65,000. It does not mention Donley, but does reference the case. I have used initials for the innocent, but hope it is ok to leave the names of the suspects/convicted. I have also paraphrased because the articles are long.

Edwardsville Intelligencer
June 22, 1942
"Part of 65,000 Stolen from Woman Said to Have Been Used In Deal"
2,000 used as a down payment was stolen from Mrs M. C. - St Louis

Jan 30, 1942
Mrs. C. hopes for part recoveries on losses of 65,000
The money was used for various purposes.
The theft occured after Mrs C. left the cash in the safe of GR C., JR
Co. Clyde Cornett has been sent to Missouri prison in connection with the theft
William Ruemaker is being sought in connection with the theft.

Defendants in the inunction suit are Lawrence Drewer, Alias Wilford Drewer
His wife, Mrs. Mabel Drewer
F. S. and his wife R.
The Drewers bought 40 acres of land from the F.S. making an initial payment of $2000

Drewer received $3000 from Cornett (part of the 65k)
Injunction says that Drewer has been indicted on another charge.
They are asking the land transfer contract be cancelled and the 2K returned

June 8, Wilford Drewer and Frank Grzyb were indicted on the theft of
a shovel and 13 bags of corn from the Walter Toberman elevator at
Peters on March 23. Indictment shows F.S. was a witness.
Property found at the Drewer home.

MrsTigglesworth · #82 02-15-2013, 09:54 AM

Articles from Ancestry.com, paraphrased

Edwardsville Intelligencer, Jan 5, 1946
Authorities sought 3 gunmen who executed Lawrence Wilford Drewer of Collinsville. They used 6 bullets and a shotgun while he tried to use 24 yr old model as shield.

Edwardsville Intelligencer
Thursday, Jan 10, 1946
RLR, 24, wanted for
questioning in the assassination of L. W. D.
shot down Last Friday in gangland fashion

Jefferson City Post-Tribune:
Feb 4th 1960
Witness missing in Murder Case:
Police searching in St Louis for state's cheif witness
RLR in a murder case against gangster Joseph Burnett
Burnett is charged with the murder of Lawrence Drewer Jan 4th 1946

Burnett released Monday after serving 14 years for Burglary
(*went to jail in 1946, after Donley's dissappearance*)
Burnett described as a hired killer
He was immediately arrested upon release

RLR told police about the 1946 slaying
He never showed up for his hearing..
(*****so, is he missing, too??? Will look into this*****)

STANDREID · #83 02-15-2013, 11:01 PM

Thanks for that great work MrsT.

Has anyone found if Donley's daughter might still be living or, if not, her date of death?

If I get the chance next week, I will try to drive over to see where 110 S. Bourland might have been. It is not a residential area now.

MrsTigglesworth · #84 02-19-2013, 03:45 PM

Sorry, not much at all on the daughter after the 1940 census. She would be over 83 now...

STANDREID · #85 03-11-2013, 08:01 AM

Most likely her name changed due to marriage.

STANDREID · #86 03-20-2013, 07:30 AM

Maybe several times

athy · #87 03-21-2013, 11:06 PM

this is the first i've heard/read about this guy. as i was reading up on it i saw the posts about the two men parking the car and leaving. Donley apparently left the office with them but i wonder if they put him in a different car with perhaps another 1 or 2 men. these two could have just had the job of getting him out of the office and to drive the car and park it somewhere. others could have had the job of doing whatever was done to Donley.

Hilda Swenson · #88 03-24-2013, 04:36 PM

Some street views of a couple of the addresses:

300 W Armstrong

110 S Bourland

STANDREID · #89 03-25-2013, 08:38 AM

Thanks Hilda. I couldn't get the S. Bourland address to come up but I think it might be because it's no longer an address. It's more like the edge of a Main Street address that covers the entire block.

STANDREID · #90 04-12-2013, 07:52 AM

I think that land is now a Main St. address because the building that sets on it faces that street.

STANDREID · #91 04-24-2013, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by STANDREID

I just found out that the river was at an all time record depth of 28.8' just 9 days before Donley disappeared so it was probably at about 27' on June 1. Flood stage is 18'. The wickets almost certainly would have been down under these conditions and, if they weren't, their tops would have likely been submerged.

We just broke that record, the river was at 29.35 feet yesterday.

STANDREID · #92 05-15-2013, 08:48 AM

During this current high water, we had a man who accidentally drove into the river during the night and drowned. That didn't happen to Donley but, if some overnight postal workers hadn't seen car lights floating down the river, this guy might have vanished and never been found so I think one could disappear into high water and never be found no matter how he got into the river.

STANDREID · #93 05-19-2013, 07:57 AM

The existing Peoria Lock and Dam was built in 1939 so the river dynamics should be essentially the same now as they were in 1943.

STANDREID · #94 06-14-2013, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by STANDREID

The existing Peoria Lock and Dam was built in 1939 so the river dynamics should be essentially the same now as they were in 1943.

Which is actually south of Peoria. The locks are in Creve Coeur, IL and the dam/wickets run from there across the river to the shore of Bartonville, IL.