Train Station Story - in Staunton, Illinois

 (as shared with me by my bother, Steve)

If you were a prizefighter back in the 20's, you were considered belonging to a profession or sport that was considered low class. Gangsters and the mob were people who frequently went to the fights. Many good family men with great families also went to see the fights and made the bets on the boxers.

Ora Dean (my Grandpa) was the most moral man I ever knew but he was a boxer and some of his fans were not considered church going men. Ora, because he was a boxer, was liked by the gangsters who were reported to live around, and, in Staunton Illinois and made bets on Ora.

Ora Dean was one of only two policemen who patrolled the city of Staunton. Officer Dean made a habit of checking out the train station when a train would come into town. He just checked out the people and anything that seemed out of place.

One day a gangster who was on the run came in on one of the trains. He went into the train station to take a walk or get a drink. Some of the local guys who had gangster ties saw the man get off the train and knew this guy would not blink an eye to shoot and kill Ora, if he thought the policeman recognized him.  

Soon, the man was surrounded with locals and they warned him not to shoot Ora. The men who protected Ora told the man that if he put his hand inside his coat he would be shot. The men followed him around until he got back on the train and was on his way to Chicago.

Some time later the man was arrested in Chicago and he was interrogated about the crimes he completed. It was at this time, he asked just who the policeman was in Staunton that received so much support.

Well, that is the story I have always been told. It goes with this next story and my family passed this one on to me too.

THEY GOT BACK IN THEIR CARS

Ora worked as a police officer and there were only two in town and only one on duty at a time.  Both of the officers took turns protecting the money when it was payday at the mine. The story I was told involved a group of men guarding money coming from St. Louis and headed to Chicago.

 It was normal; for a local policemen to accompany such an event when the team would go thru the county. Ora Dean was riding shotgun and protecting the money when they were surrounded at an intersection by four cars.

The gangsters got out of their cars and noticed Ora as part of the group. The story goes on to say the men got back in their cars and drove away.

A robbery took place a day later, near Springfield, Illinois. I know this all sounds just unbelievable but this is the knowledge that was passed on to my family.