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.