Ninth Officer Killed in 1920?

Eight St. Louis Police Officers were killed in the line of duty during 1920. I was shocked to find a newspaper article about a Ninth officer being killed. წმინდა. Louis Metropolitan Police Department is good about recording all their line of duty deaths. When I found his Missouri Death Certificate, it cleared up the mystery.

I came across the article in the November 22, 1920 გამოცემა Richmond Times-Dispatch (Richmond, Virginia). The article stated a society woman shot a St. Louis Police Officer who she took for a bandit.

დროს 1920, წმინდა. Louis experienced a large number of burglaries and robberies. Robbers and burglars killed five of the seven St. Louis Police Officers who died in the line of duty prior to this incident.

ქალბატონ. Ruth Scott, a 25-year-old housewife, was riding with her husband 33-year-old Samuel S. Scott. The Richmond Times-Dispatch reported police were drawn to the vehicle because of closed curtains.

“The police” attempted to pull the vehicle over but Mrs. Scott mistook them for bandits. She urged her husband to drive faster. When 47-year-old Charles J. Bacher, who was actually a Watchman with the St. Louis Parks Department, jumped on the running board in an attempt to stop the Scotts, ქალბატონ. Scott shot him from inside the vehicle.

One bullet struck Officer Bacher in the chest causing a fatal wound. Bacher bled to death on the pavement before medical treatment could be rendered.

Fortunately for Mrs. Scott, წმინდა. Louis Coroner ruled the death an accidental homicide. After reading the article, I was trying to verify the death so I could notify the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department about the line of duty death.

The first challenge involved the incorrect spelling of Officer Bacher’s name. The newspaper listed his name as Charles J. Backer. After searching all St. Louis residents who died in 1920, I found his name was actually Charles J. Bacher. Officer Bacher was married at the time of his death.

Ruth Scott passed away in 1961. She lived out the remainder of her life as a house wife.

Eight St. Louis Police Officers lost their lives in 1920 not nine. However, many innocent St. Louisans like Charles Bacher lost their lives. We don’t want to see any more years like 1920 წმინდა. Louis.

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