Combat Sports Historian and Martial Artist
This post is an excerpt from the revised book Morrissey vs. Poole: Politics, Prizefighting and the Murder of Bill the Butcher. The hot air laid stagnant in the room as the man in the corner tried to sleep. Giving up on the possibility of sleep, the “Troy Giant” pulled himself into a sitting position on the edge of the bed.
Thief. Liar. Bigamist. Con Man. Murderer. All accurate labels for one of the greatest charlatans to operate in St. Louis. “Lord F. Seymour Barrington” was a bit of a local celebrity, if an extremely disreputable one, during 1903. After conducting a bigamist marriage on the East Coast, “Lord Barrington” stole his wife’s trousseau and headed to St. Louis. When Barrington
Rosa or Rose Elker was born in St. Louis on February 5, 1890. Aunt Rose was my great-grandmother, Magdalena Elker’s, youngest sister. On Saturday, September 22, 1906, the 16-year-old Rose was walking to her job at the Plows Candy Factory in St. Louis. Aunt Rose was walking about 8 am in the morning, when she started to cross the 18th
When unknown men shot Officer Michael Walsh on a cold, foggy night during December 1880, St. Louis Police believed the suspect may be saloon and grocery burglars working in the area. However, St. Louis detectives had been unable to find the burglary team. A chatty prisoner cleared up the mystery in April 1881. Police arrested Charlie Wilson with his friend Tom Higgins
This post is an unedited excerpt from my newest book to be released in Fall or early Winter 2017. William Rudolph’s trial delayed George Collins’ execution to later in the day on March 27, 1904. Normally, executions occurred at dawn. Prior to being escorted to the gallows, Sheriff Bruch allowed Collins to say goodbye to Rudolph. Collins walked into the
It was very cold on the morning of Sunday, December 5, 1880, about 2 a.m., when St. Louis Police Officer Sheehan found the front door open to John R. Lionberger’s home. Owing to the bitter cold, Sheehan feared burglars had entered the residence. Sheehan rang the bell repeatedly but could not awaken anyone inside. Sheehan began rapping his night stick against the
Over the next three weeks, I will be releasing posts, which are excerpts from the book I’m currently working on and one from a previously published book. The following unedited story is from the book I’m working on which will be released in the Fall or early Winter 2017. William Rudolph proved elusive after his Independence Day escape from the
Sherlock Holmes Faces Death (1943) is loosely based on The Adventure of the Musgrave Ritual. The short story was published in The Strand Magazine during May 1893. It was later compiled in The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes. In the story, the Musgrave Mansion held a secret that even it’s inhabitants did not know. This film follows the same plot line
Few events shocked St. Louis like the line of duty death of Lt. Sidney Sears in June 1924. For almost 30 years, Lt. Sears was considered the best pistol shot on the St. Louis Police Department. In 1904, Sears was also National Pistol Champion of the United States. For someone to kill Lt. Sears in a shootout was considered impossible.
St. Louis Police Officer Cornelius O’Keefe performed countless acts of bravery over his career. On May 26, 1901, O’Keefe proved his toughness and quick thinking again by saving a fellow officer from an excited horse and shed fire. St. Louis Police Officer Joseph A. Gerk patrolled his beat on Eighteenth Street during the morning of May 26, 1901, when he