Auto Thieves Kill Another Policeman

William Dillon was responding to reports about the murder of Officer McKenna by the Lewis Brothers.   Dillon believed that the Lewis Brothers, who were auto and wire thieves, were responsible for McKenna’s death.

Dillon proceeded to the DeMorris home at 4232 Athlone Avenue.  He observed two of the Lewis brothers enter the garage in the Ford.  Dillon entered the garage behind them.  He was never seen again.

According to In The Line of Duty: St. Louis Police Officers Who Made the Ultimate Sacrifice by Barbara Miksicek, David McElreath and Stephen Pollihan, Dillon drew his revolver, when one of the brothers started to pull a gun.  Dillon told him to drop the gun and the man complied.

However, as Dillon looked into the truck of the vehicle to inspect some stolen copper wire, Frank Lewis struck him in the head with a hatchet.  His younger brother Ora joined in and the Lewis brothers bludgeoned Dillon to death.

A third brother, Roy Lewis, who was with Ora, when Ora shot Officer McKenna, walked into the garage after the murder of Dillon.  He would later confess to his participation in the crimes and provided details about the crimes.

According to the April 8, 1916 edition of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Dillon was seen by several witnesses entering the garage.  One of the witnesses, a delivery driver, saw him enter the garage.  However, he stated when he left 10 or 15 minutes later, he did not see Dillon.  Both the Ford and Hudson were gone from the alley.

The Ford was abandoned at Belleview and College Avenues.  The original reports had them abandoning it after killing McKenna but they took the Ford home first, where Dillon was murdered.

It is believed that one of the bundles they removed from the vehicle was the body of Officer Dillon.  Blood was found on the trunk and door frame of the vehicle.  A button from a police uniform was also found on the floor board of the Ford.

The Hudson was abandoned in Overland Park.  It contained 200 pounds of copper wire.  A few hours later, a farmer found Officer Dillon’s body in a field.  He had died of a fractured skull.

Police arrested John DeMorris, the Lewis’ step-father, and Roy “Joe” Lewis.  Police found a stolen vehicle, numerous auto parts, fire arms and equipment used to stop trains at the Athlone house.  The family had used the aliases DeMorris, Lewis and Baty.

Officer Dillon was born on September 19, 1877.  He was 38 years old at the time of his death.  He left a father, who was a city fireman, and seven brothers.

In September 1916, Kansas City Police arrested Ora and Roy Lewis.  Frank Lewis escaped.  The Lewis brothers were originally from Kansas City but left there in 1914, when Frank or Ora shot a Kansas City Police Officer.

Ora Lewis and Roy Lewis were convicted of Officer McKenna’s murder.  Roy Lewis served 24 years before being released in 1941.  He managed to stay out of trouble after his parole.

Ora Lewis was paroled three times but returned to prison every time for new crimes.  Lewis was shot and killed in 1956, when out on parole for the third and last time.  It doesn’t say whether fellow criminals or the police shot him.

Frank Lewis was captured by Kansas City Police in 1917 but contracted pneumonia, while awaiting extradition.  Frank Lewis died at 18 years of age ending his short but violent life.

You can leave a comment or ask a question about this or any post on my Facebook page and Twitter profile.

Pin It