Certamina ludis Historicus et Martialis Artist
Legacy posts about St. Louis history with a particular emphasis on building and police history.
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
Die Saturni, Jube 5, 1900 at 11:30 p.m., the explosion of the Suburban Line at the Wabash and Sarah Street railroad crossing marked the beginning of the St. Louis de platea cursus molestie 1900. Ante ictum erat in September 1900, in plateis St. Louis would be a battle ground between rich and poor with the St. Ludovicus
Thief. Liar. Bigamist. Con Man. Murderer. All accurate labels for one of the greatest charlatans to operate in St. Ludovicus. “Lord F. Seymour Barrington” was a bit of a local celebrity, if an extremely disreputable one, during 1903. Faciendi post matrimonium bigamus ad orientalem plagam,,en,stolam suam et virens est scriptor trousseau Sancti,,en,cum Harrington,,en, “Dominus Barrington” stole his wife’s trousseau and headed to St. Ludovicus. When Barrington
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
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
Few events shocked St. Louis like the line of duty death of Lt. Sidney Sears in June 1924. For almost 30 annis, Lt. Sears was considered the best pistol shot on the St. Ludovicus Lorem ipsum dolor sit. In 1904, Sears was also National Pistol Champion of the United States. For someone to kill Lt. Sears in a shootout was considered impossible.
September 15, 1887, a muscular man stood in the First District Police Court listening to Judge Cady. As he looked out between eyes almost swollen shut and a busted lip, he waited to see if justice would be done. It was as Judge Cady told the beaten man, “$10 fine for disturbing the peace. $100 for resisting arrest. You
Die martis, 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
Novembres 1908, three bishops and an abbot dedicated St. Francis de Sales Church, “the Cathedral of South St. Ludovicus”. Built to serve the growing German Catholic population in St. Ludovicus, the huge church would become the home to many families including my great grandparents, And Eduard Magdalena Mosblech, and their 14 filii. In S.. Aloisii archidioecesis ecclesiam dedicavit
On the evening of June 1, 1879, St. Louis Police Officer Charles Printz was walking his beat near 505 Marion Street on St. Ludovicus’ South Side. It is not clear if Charles Sanders actions attracted Printz’s attention, or Printz just stumbled upon Sanders. Whatever the circumstances, Printz walked up to Sanders, who had a revolver in his right hand. When