Criminal Shoots Officer Printz

On the evening of June 1, 1879, St. Louis Police Officer Charles Printz was walking his beat near 505 Marion Street on St. Louis’ 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 Sanders saw Printz he fired a shot, which missed the officer. Printz attempted to strike Sanders with his club but missed. During the tussle, Sanders was able to get a second shot off. This bullet struck Printz in the chest and he fell to the pavement. Officer Printz would become the fifth St. Louis Police Officer killed in the line of duty.

Charles Sanders was only 22 years old but already a hardened, vicious criminal. A member of the Duncan Island Gang, city authorities had just released Sanders from St. Louis’ Workhouse after completing a 9-month sentence for stabbing a man. Sanders obtained a gun and went to his brother-in-law’s and sister’s house on Marion Street.

Sanders’ father had recently passed away. Authorities believed he intended to force Leon and Sophie Martin to give him money as part of the estate. Sanders stood at the gate of the home on Marion Street demanding to see his brother-in-law, Leon. Sanders was visibly drunk.

During this tirade, Officer Printz approached Charles Sanders and tried to calm him. However, a melee ensued when Sanders shot at Printz. Printz never pulled his revolver because his tunic made it difficult to draw the weapon. As Sanders made his escape, the shot attracted the attention of neighbors.

The neighbors took Officer Printz to Julius Koch’s drug store at Carondolet Avenue and Marion Street. Doctors Hartmann and Yoerster examined Printz, who was already dead. The bullet ripped through his aorta and was fatal within seconds of the bullet striking him. The 37-year-old Printz had been on the force since August 3, 1872. He left a widow and children.

Sanders escaped St. Louis. Eventually, Chicago Police arrested Sanders in 1883. Upon returning to St. Louis, prosecutors tried Sanders four times before a jury eventually convicted Sanders of fourth-degree manslaughter in 1885. The court sentenced Sanders to four years in prison but gave him credit for time served in the St. Louis Jail.

In 1887, prison officials released Sanders. Not long after his release, Sanders tried to stab two other men to death. A jury convicted Sanders for assaulting the two men. The judge sentenced Sanders to two years in prison for attempted murder.

At this point, Charles Sanders fades from history. He does not show up in the Missouri Death Certificate database, so he died before 1910. A violent death would not be surprising for such a violent man.

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Sources: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, June 2, 1879, edition, p. 4, April 6, 1883, edition, p. 5, February 3, 1885, edition, p. 7 and May 10, 1887, edition, p. 2

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