Preston Anslyn’s Early Exploits

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Before he was promoted to Special Officer, St. Louis Police Officer Preston Anslyn responded to calls for service like any other patrolman.  On the morning of February 28, 1916, Anslyn was patrolling the area of Franklin and Jefferson Avenues. A citizen notified Anslyn that 30-year-old Albert Kivet was celebrating after his birthday on February 27th.  During his revelry, Kivet assaulted

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Boss Butler and the St. Louis Machine

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When it comes to machine politics and organized crime, Kansas City has always outshone St. Louis.  Kansas City’s Pendergast political machine helped land Harry S. Truman in the White House.  Kansas City was also home to several high-profile gangland shootings.  St. Louis’ last organized crime leader was arrested for playing cards. We did have a Democratic party political machine around

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Detective Desmond Catches Eddie Guerin

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Before he was the “Sherlock Holmes of St. Louis”, St. Louis Chief of Detectives William Desmond was Detective “Billy” Desmond.  One of the most talented detectives in St. Louis Police history, Desmond met one of the most famous international criminals in history, Eddie Guerin, in the mid-1880s. Guerin robbed the American Express Office in Paris in the early 1900s.  French

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Murder at 2912 Washington

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Buildings are just piles of boards and bricks without the stories that are attached to them.  During November 1912, St. Louis Police Officer Arthur Huddleston was killed by paroled murderer Albert Whitefield.  Whitefield had surprised his common-law wife, who was entertaining another gentleman caller.  Whitefield attempted to kill her before two St. Louis Police Officers responded to her cries for

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