About the Author

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Peter Stehman is a St. Louis, Missouri area historian who has held a lifelong interest in the Robert Prager tragedy and the environment which enabled it. The author, retired from a career in public safety, previously worked as a journalist and has written numerous magazine articles. He holds a Bachelors in Mass Communication/Journalism and Masters in Public Administration, both from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville. 

The story of the Prager incident was, 100 years ago, shameful to Collinsville residents. The incident wasn’t openly discussed in the city for generations.  Many current Collinsville residents are not aware that their city was a center of international attention 100 years ago. Others heard only brief anecdotes of the incident from long-gone parents or grandparents. As with a wayward relative or ignominious family event, it was just as soon forgotten. But Stehman’s extensive research revealed the toxic local and national environment that allowed a lonely, innocent immigrant to be murdered, and for all of the accused men to be acquitted of the crime. 

See the author's blog, Reconsidering It All.