Streetcar Strike Claims Policeman

On Thursday night, May 31, 1900, Albert Koenig, a strike sympathizer with a history of mental illness, shot and killed Patrolman Dennis Crane.  Patrolman Crane and several other officers responded to the area due to reports of Koenig menacing other citizens.  Koenig entered Eas and Sons Saloon at the southwest corner of S. Broadway and Osage Streets.  Koenig may have been at a protest by the Southwestern Electric power station, which powered the streetcars.

Koenig entered the establishment armed with a shotgun.  He stated that he was a strike sympathizer and threatened to shoot anyone who interfered with him.  At some point, he fired the shotgun into the air.   Someone eased away and notified the police.   About 20 officers were guarding the power station because of the strike and several began to move towards the saloon.  When Koenig observed the police responding to the saloon about 10:00 p.m., he fled down Osage Street.

About 10:45 p.m., Patrolman Dennis Crane observed Koenig come back onto S. Broadway and head towards the saloon again.  Patrolman Crane ordered Koenig to halt.  Koenig raised his shotgun at Patrolman Crane, who again ordered him to halt and drop his weapon.  Koenig fired both barrels into Patrolman Crane, who dropped immediately.   Patrolman Crane never pulled his weapon.

Koenig turned and fled back in to Eas and Sons Saloon.  Most of the patrons scattered as Koenig fled into a back room.  Koenig was also armed with a revolver that he pulled out since he did not have time to reload his shotgun.  While several officers attended to Patrolman Crane, Sgts. Lucy and Maher along with five other officers hurried to the saloon.

Officer Horine and McNichols guarded the back door to keep Koenig from escaping.  Sgt. Lucy and Sgt. Maher entered with the three officers including Officer Maher not to be confused with his brother the Sergeant.  The five officers rushed Koenig, who fired two shots from his revolver but missed the officers.  Koenig placed the revolver to the temple of Officer Maher.  Officer Maher wrestled Koenig’s weapon arm away from the other officers with his right hand.  Officer Maher drew his service weapon with his left hand and fatally wounded Koenig by shooting him twice int the heart.  Koenig died instantly.

The other officers rushed Patrolman Crane to the adjacent Alexian Brother Hospital, where Koenig died on Friday, June 1, 1900 at 2:00 a.m.  According to the June 1, 1900 edition of the St. Louis Republic, Crane’s right lung had been shredded by the No. 6 shot from Albert Koenig’s shotgun.  Crane, who lived at 2043A St. Vincent Avenue, left a wife and two children.  His brother was Jerry Crane, a well-known Central District Policeman.

Dennis Crane never pulled his service weapon while being menaced with a shotgun.  With so many policeman around, he may have thought that Albert Koenig would surrender, when he realized that he did not have much of a chance for escape.  Koenig was not a rational man though.

Dennis Crane and Albert Koenig were two more casualties in one of the deadliest strikes in St. Louis history.  Unfortunately, many more casualties would occur before the strike was over in September 1900 although Dennis Crane was the only policeman.

If you like this story, you may like St. Louis’ Civil War: The Streetcar Strike of 1900 on Amazon.

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