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The Kissing Bandit St. Valentine’s Day which arrived this past Monday—2000 seems to be scooting right along, doesn’t it?—brings to mind tales of romance and love. Our Town, however, sometimes marches to a slightly different tune, and so this week features the retelling of the story of the “kissing bandit” which first appeared in The Progress on Aug. 27, 1936. At 11 p.m. on Saturday Aug. 22, Henry Agles of O’Fallon and an unnamed lady companion had parked along the highway near the William Peach home northeast of O’Fallon. They were there only a short time when they were startled by a man who approached on Agles’ side and was carrying a gun in one hand and a flashlight in the other. Another man approached the car from the other side at the same time, and the one with the gun commanded them to “get out, and make it snappy.” Agles was hurriedly searched, but the bandit was disappointed when he found only one dollar. When asked whether that was all the money he had, Agles replied, “Yes.” The second bandit made the young lady get out of the car and proceeded to search her. When he found no money on her, he proceeded to take off her shoes and stockings believing that she had some valuables hidden. Disappointed, he told the young lady, “Since you have no money or valuables, I’ll just help myself with a kiss.” The couple was ordered back into the car and warned to remain there five or more minutes before driving away.
After the specified time, Agles tried to start the car but discovered that the distributor had been dismantled. Seeking help at the nearby Peach home, they were brought into town and deputy sheriff John Tiley was notified. The bandits were apparently never caught and, presumably, the stolen kiss never recovered.
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