William Oscar Potter was a judge, senator, & attorney who grew up in Southern Illinois. One night in 1926, his entire family, including his 4 yr old and 3 week old grandchildren, were found horribly bludgeoned to death with a furnace shaker. Mr Potter's body was found in a cistern on his property, though he had no water in his lungs. The assumption became that he was losing money and killed himself and his family. However, the only survivor was his son, Maurice, who also found the bodies and was rumored to run with a "fast group ".

This was my very 1st introduction to true crime. The house where it happened is gone now. Even as a small child I remember thinking he didn't do it.

Was it the son? Did he just lose his mind one night? Was this a cover up?

https://www.dailyrepublicannews.com/news/20171025/looking-back-the-91-year-old-murder-suicide-that-rocked-marion

https://www.mihp.org/2013/01/807-n-market/

https://images.app.goo.gl/psnh9T1zUrNNrXhV7