Albert Whitefield’s First Murder

On November 17, 1912, Albert Whitefield achieved infamy in St. Louis history by murdering St. Louis Police Officer Arthur Huddleston.  Huddleston prevented Whitefield murdering his common law wife, Annie Washington, and her gentlemen caller.  Whitefield shot Huddleston to death in a Midtown alley before leading St. Louis Police on a two state chase.

Arthur Huddleston was not Albert Whitefield’s first murder, however.  On October 18, 1890, Whitefield took his first life, when he shot former supervisor Grandison Jones on the St. Louis Riverfront.

The “Levee” was one of the busiest ports in the United States with ships docking and departing daily.  The rough men working the ships gave the Levee a rough reputation for violence.  When Whitefield added to this legend, the October 19, 1890 edition of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch called it “another shooting affray on the levee.”

Grandison Jones, an African-American St. Louisan, supervised the other black workers on the boat Baton Rogue.  The 46-year-old had difficulty in supervising the 20ish Albert Whitefield, during a trip down the river in early October 1890.  When the boat arrived back in St. Louis, the boat company discharged Whitefield.

Whitefield swore he would get revenge on Jones, who probably had been threatened before and took no notice of Whitefield’s threats.  Jones’ failure to take Whitefield’s threats seriously would lead to a premature death for the husband and father.

Whitefield entered the ship on October 18, 1890 about 1 pm.  An unknown man accompanied Whitefield.  Whitefield approached Jones and attempted to start an argument with him.  Jones ignored Whitefield and continued working.

Whitefield pulled a revolver from his pocket and fired five shots at Jones.  Three bullets struck him in the torso including one bullet, which pierced Jones’ heart.  Any of the three wounds would have killed Jones.

Jones pulled his own weapon and fired three shots at Whitefield.  One bullet struck Whitefield on the wrist and broke it.  One of the bullets from either Whitefield or Jones grazed the neck of Charles Newton, who would survive the affray.

Whitefield attempted to flee from the scene but St. Louis Police Officers Cavanaugh, Tobin and McDuffy caught Whitefield about three block from the scene.  They took Whitefield back to the scene, where Jones identified Whitefield as his killer.  Jones died within five minutes of Whitefield being brought back to the scene.

Albert Whitefield was sentenced to prison for the murder of Grandison Jones but was sentenced under the lesser charge of manslaughter.  Whitefield remained in prison until 1908.  On November 17, 1912, the murderous rage reared its ugly head again.  Whitefield was a dangerous man to anger.

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Source: The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 18, 1890 edition, p. 6 and October 19, 1890 edition, p. 22

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