Chief Desmond Gets a Confession

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St. Louis Chief of Detectives William Desmond was known for his ability to gain confessions from criminals. Unlike other detectives, who would sometimes use physical intimidation, Desmond eschewed the “third degree”. Chief Desmond believed information obtained by beating suspects was completely unreliable. Desmond would start a discussion with the suspect. After putting him or her at ease, Desmond would let

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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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Lt. Tret de Sears Sidney

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Pocs esdeveniments van sorprendre St. Louis com la línia de la mort deure de Lt. Sidney Sears al juny 1924. per a gairebé 30 any, Lt. Sears va ser considerat el millor tret de pistola al St. Departament de Policia de Louis. En 1904, Sears també va ser Campió Nacional de Pistola dels Estats Units. Perquè algú pugui matar Lt. Sears in a shootout was considered impossible.

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St. Francis de Sales Dedicated in 1908

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Al novembre 1908, three bishops and an abbot dedicated St. Francis de Sales Church, “the Cathedral of South St. Louis”. Built to serve the growing German Catholic population in St. Louis, the huge church would become the home to many families including my great grandparents, Eduard and Magdalena Mosblech, and their 14 nens. El St. Louis Archdiocese dedicated the church

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