Whiteside County IL Archives News.....A Probable Murder November 22, 1899
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Ken Wright wright@prestontel.com February 14, 2010, 7:31 pm

Preston Independent November 22, 1899
Preston Independent, Preston, Jackson County, Iowa, November 22, 1899

A Probable Murder

Frank Strohm, of Lyons, shot George Mealey, at Pringle’s saloon, in Lyons, 
about midnight, Sunday night. It appears that Strohm and some acquaintances 
had been frequenting the saloon and house of prostitution kept by one Minnie 
Meader in the rooms above the saloon, Sunday afternoon and evening. During the 
day Strohm had a quarrel with Billy Reagan, a Lyons cigar maker. Mealey, who 
is a stove moulder from Fulton, Illinois, had been spending the day with a 
number of companions in Clinton, coming up to Lyons on the last car at night, 
and dropped into Pringle’s saloon, which is near the end of the street car 
line, to get a glass of beer. The saloon was closed at twelve o’clock and when 
the crowd had reached the sidewalk Strohm and Reagan resumed their quarrel, 
the former drawing a revolver. Mealey, who was not in any manner concerned in 
the trouble, stepped between them and said “For God’s sake don’t shoot.” At 
that moment Strohm pulled the trigger, a 32 calibre bullet crashing into 
Mealey’s forehead about an inch above the nose. He fell and was weltering in a 
pool of blood when found by the officers. All parties who witnessed the affair 
were arrested, including the inmates of the rooms upstairs. Mealey was still 
alive Monday night, but little hopes were entertained for his recovery. Strohm 
has a bad reputation, having recently served a term in jail for deserting his 
wife, whom he married to escape prosecution for seduction. His mother died 
only a few days previous to the above escapade, and his father who holds a 
government position at Washington, but who is at present in Lyons, is almost 
heartbroken over the affair. Hon. W. I. Hayes has been employed to defend him. 
The fact which appears to be established that Pringle not only ran his saloon 
on Sunday, but until twelve o’clock at night, does not speak very well for the 
Lyon’s authorities.


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