Chief Desmond Creates Own Mystery

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St. Louis Chief of Detectives William Desmond created a bit of a mystery in January 1903, when he attempted to sneak off and get married.  It was to be the 45-year-old Desmond’s first marriage.  Chief Desmond was to marry Hannah McLaughlin, the daughter of a local builder.  The couple was to honeymoon in Southern California before returning to St. Louis

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Chief Desmond Gets a New Assistant

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On Monday, December 15, 1902, St. Louis Police Assistant Chief of Detectives James H. Smith retired from the police department to take a position in the coal industry.  Chief of Detectives William Desmond attempted to convince Smith to stay but he decided to retire from the force as his fortieth birthday approached. Smith compiled a commendable record as Desmond’s Assistant. 

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Terror By Night (1946)

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Universal Pictures released the thirteenth (affiliate link) of fourteen Sherlock Holmes films starring Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes on February 1, 1946. Twentieth Century-Fox produced the first two films. Universal produced the final 12 films. Terror By Night (1946) finds Holmes hired to protect the Star of Rhodesia diamond on a train bound for Scotland. Rodney Carstairs hires Holmes to

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Old Smoke Defeats Benicia Boy

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John Morrissey claimed the World Bare Knuckle Prizefighting Championship in a controversial bout with Yankee Sullivan in October 1853.  After beating a murder charge for his participation in the murder of Bill “The Butcher” Poole, Morrissey decided to defend his title against John C. Heenan, “the Benicia Boy”.  “Old Smoke” Morrissey defeated Heenan in the October 1858 bout held in

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St. Louis Police Nab Robber of Policeman

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On Monday, March 5, 1900, St. Louis Police Officers Thomas Meagher and Thomas Degnan apprehended men who robbed an East St. Louis Officer of his gun.  Ed Sullivan, a 22 year-old transient, robbed an East St. Louis Police Officer of his gun, jewelry and possessions in late February 1900. Officer Thomas Meagher observed Sullivan and Harry Davis walking near Olive

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Tangled Destinies (1932)

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Tangled Destinies (1932) is an example of an early “B” film, the film shown first on a double bill. However, this film (affiliate link) holds up well despite being released during the early transition to sound films. Frank R. Strayer directed the film for Mayfair Pictures Corporation. Strayer was a better than average “B” film director. He also directed another

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The Speckled Band (1931)

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One of the earliest talkie films based on the Sherlock Holmes stories, The Speckled Band (1931) is a public domain film heavily edited from its original form. British and Dominion Films Corporation produced the film, which they released on March 5, 1931. Raymond Massey has his first starring role as Sherlock Holmes. The film is set in 1930s England. Sherlock

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