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Histories Forgotten: Two game wardens, two brothers, and two murders in Illinois from the early 1900s (Part 1)

Deputy Game Warden G. Earle Eldredge was found dead in a McHenry County swamp in 1907. (Photo provided)

The job of a conservation officer has always been considered a dangerous endeavor.
In the often solitary and secluded work environment, there are numerous deadly weapons available to those attempting to flee justice and a natural landscape that even the most skilled officer can find challenging. On February 11, 1902, Deputy Game Warden Gasper R. Ratto, 54, was at a local railroad depot carrying out his duties.

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