Lord Barrington Is Beaten Up

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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

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Collins Executed for Union Bank Robbery

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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

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William Desmond Passes Away

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On Tuesday, July 4, 1916, former St. Louis Chief of Detectives William Desmond passed away after an illness of two years.  Desmond was in Alexian Brothers Hospital from October 1915 until his death on Independence Day 1916.  The 59-year-old Desmond left a 12-year-old son, William Desmond, Jr.  Chief Desmond’s wife died several years before him. For 17 years from 1890

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Ira Cooper Unravels Money Order Theft

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On February 22, 1924, unknown suspects took $20,000.00 in American Express Company money orders from the Mercantile Trust Company in Downtown St. Louis.  Initially, the American Bankers Association hired private detectives.  After the detectives were unable to discover any serious leads, the association turned the case over to the St. Louis Police Department. When the bank association turned over the

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