Ambush Kills Beat Officer

54-year-old William Henry Anderson plied his trade as a St. Louis Police Officer for 25 taon. Nakatalaga sa isang beat malapit sa Natural Bridge at Vandeventer Avenues, Officer Anderson was known as the “Friendly Copper” by the residents and businesses on his beat.

Working the overnight shift on a cold February morning, Officer Anderson was walking on Vandeventer just south of the intersection with Natural Bridge. Wearing gloves to keep out the cold, Anderson was walking near Brady’s Saloon, a notorious hangout, when he was felled by a shot to the neck from behind.

As Anderson lay on the sidewalk, the unknown assailant or assailants fired two more shots in the back of his head. Henry Marmor, who was delivering newspapers at Vandeventer and Labadie Avenues, heard five shots ring out and looked at his watch. Iyon ay 5:25 am.

St. Louis Police responded to the gunshots found Anderson laying in a pool of blood in front of Brady’s Saloon. The responding officers believed Anderson had no idea he was about to be ambushed. Anderson was wearing his mittens; Ang kanyang overcoat ay ganap na na -button up at ang kanyang baril ay ganap na na -load at nasa kanyang bulsa pa rin.

St. Louis Police were convinced Anderson’s death was connected to Brady’s Saloon, a North Side gangster hangout. When the Vandeventer streetcar passed at 5:00 am, the lights were on in the saloon and two cars were parked out front.

When the streetcar passed again at 5:56 am, Nawala ang mga kotse, At madilim ang saloon. A site of frequent police raids, St. Ang mga kriminal na Louis ay gumugol ng oras nang magkasama sa bar.

Gayunman, Anderson did not take part in the raids of Brady’s Saloon. Earlier in his shift, Anderson walked through Brady’s Saloon, Binati ang mga patron, at napukaw walang pag -usisa o pag -aalala sa pamamagitan ng kanyang presensya.

Officer Anderson checked in on the call box at 4:10 a.m. Bilang siya ay naka -iskedyul at sinabing lahat ay tahimik sa kanyang pagkatalo. Anderson missed his next check-in at 5:10 a.m. Ngunit walang nakakaalam kung ano ang nakakulong kay Anderson. Ang kabiguan ni Anderson na mag-check-in ay tila hindi nag-aalala hanggang sa naiulat ng mga mamamayan ang mga pag-shot na pinaputok sa punong tanggapan ng pulisya.

St. Kinapanayam ng pulisya ng Louis ang mga patron kasama ang isang klerk ng ST. Louis City Courts, propesyonal na baseball player at maraming mga hindi kilalang character ngunit hindi kailanman pinangalanan ang anumang mga potensyal na suspek. Sa kasamaang-palad, the streetcar conductor did not get a good look at the vehicles, na maaaring makatulong sa pangalan ng pulisya ang pumatay o pumatay. Ngayon, Officer Anderson’s murder is still an unsolved crime.

Officer William H. Anderson was born on October 17, 1869, in Missouri. Anderson lived at 4567 Clarence Avenue with his wife Lida and grown daughter. Ang isang anak na lalaki ay nakaligtas din kay Anderson. St. Ang mga opisyal ng pulisya ng Louis ay nakaranas ng mahiwagang pagpatay ngunit bihira ang isang walang kamalayan.

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Sources: Ang St. Louis Post-despatso, Pebrero 11, 1924, p. 1 & 3 at St. Louis Star-Times, Pebrero 15, 1924, p. 1

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