Robbers Kill Detective Sergeant in 1920

Op 'n koue nag in Januarie 1920, the deadliest year for St. Louis Polisie, kicked off violently. Two not so-bright robbers attempted to rob one of the largest and bravest officers on the St. Louis Police Department.

St. Louis Police Detective Sergeant James Martin King was walking to his home at 4973 Lotus Avenue via N. KINGSHIGHWAY Boulevard, when two robbers attempted to hold him up. Instead of submitting to the robbery, Sgt. King pulled his revolver from his coat pocket and engaged in a gun battle with the robbers.

During the gun fight, Sgt. King was shot in the chest. Although it looked initially like he might survive, pneumonia set in. He died six days after being shot. Sgt. King was the first St. Louis police officer killed in 1920.

Sgt. King supervised detectives out of the Carr Street Station. He was on his way home, when he exited a street car at N. Kingshighway and Easton Avenue. Sgt. King was walking north on the east side of the street. In 1920 the sidewalk ended at Aldine Place, so he stepped into the median of N. Kingshighway. Dit was omtrent 10:45 namiddag. Maandag, Januarie 12, 1920.

Wanneer Sgt. King stepped into the median, twee mans na vore gekom en hom beveel om sy hande te gooi. Sgt. King uitgetrek sy diensrewolwer en geweer vuur uitgeruil met die rowers. Shocked by Sgt. King’s actions, the men continued shooting as they ran east on Aldine Place.

A bystander named Wernhoner heard the shots and ducked into a hallway to avoid the shooting. Wernhoner then came to Sgt. King's bystand. Sgt. King het probeer hulp te kontak deur die oproep boks aan N. Kingshighway and Easton Avenue but it was not working due to vandalism.

Wernhoner and a couple of pedestrians took Sgt. King 'n taverne op die suidwestelike hoek van N. Kingshighway and Easton Avenue. Hulp is ontbied van die nabygeleë Deer Street Station.

King is na St geneem. John Hospitaal, waar hy op Sondag gesterf, Januarie 18, 1920 longontsteking veroorsaak word deur die skietwond aan die bors. Verskeie verdagtes is aangekeer, maar sy moordenaars is nooit gevang.

It is surprising the number of early St. Louis polisiebeamptes, wat gedood is, maar hul moordenaar is nooit gevang. Die moordenaars van vier van die agt St. Louis polisiebeamptes vermoor in 1920 sou nie gevang word.

King's aanvallers was twee wit mans tussen 18 en 23 jaar oud. Die langer was 5’08” en die korter een was 5’05”. Hulle was gelukkig, want hulle was nie baie helder.

Sgt. King was 'n groot man. Volgens die skrywers van die tweede uitgawe van In die lyn van die reg (stel vir die vrylating volgende jaar 2014), sy vader, “Big Bill” King was meer as 6’05” en 300 pond, wat is 'n groot, selfs in moderne tye. Sgt. King sou nie normaalweg gewees het 'n aantreklike teiken vir rowers. Besluit om hom beroof wys hoe desperaat die manne was.

Die koerant lyste Sgt. King se ouderdom as 48 maar sy dood sertifikaat, sê hy was in Junie gebore 12, 1874, wat hom sou gemaak het 46 jaar oud. Hy het 'n weduwee, Nellie King, en vier kinders.

Ongelukkig voor die 1920 geslaag het, sewe ander St. Louis polisiebeamptes sou hul lewe verloor die verdediging van die burgers van die stad.

Hoekom dink jy het die mans probeer beroof Speursersant King? You can leave a comment or ask a question on my Facebook bladsy en Twitter profiel.

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