Hannah McLaughlin Desmond (1879 – 1904)

On January 7, 1903, St. Louis Chief of Detectives William Desmond married 24-year-old Hannah McLaughlin in a ceremony he hoped to keep secret.  The 46-year-old Desmond always said he would never marry due to the dangers of his job.  However, he was clearly smitten with Hannah McLaughlin.

In March 1897, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch printed the first rumors of an engagement between Desmond and Hannah McLaughlin.   Desmond was 40.  Hannah was 18.  However, the actual wedding didn’t occur for another 6 years.

Chief Desmond and Hannah were married in a small ceremony at St. Anne Catholic Church, a block from William Desmond’s residence at 4290 Page Avenue.  Hannah had been educated in a convent.  She had known William Desmond since her childhood.  When she grew to adulthood, she would marry Desmond or no one.  She wasn’t interested in anyone else.

Mr. and Mrs. Desmond honeymooned out west primarily in Southern California.  After a month away, they returned to St. Louis in February.  Sometime within the next year, Hannah gave birth to the Desmond’s only child, William Desmond, Jr.

Chief Desmond always worried about the dangers of his job and the possibility that he would leave Hannah a young widow.  As the World’s Fair approached in 1904, his worries were likely compounded.

For the 1904 World’s Fair, the St. Louis Police Department would basically be divided in two.  Chief of Police Mathew Kiely would command the uniformed force and primarily be concerned with policing the city.  Chief Desmond and his detectives would primarily be assigned to the World’s Fair.  The forces were supplemented with officers from around the country and private officers like the Jefferson Guard at the World’s Fair.

His duties would also lead to long work days away from home.  Chief Desmond could not suspect that his young and healthy wife would die before him.  However, in August 1904, Hannah Desmond did suffer serious illness.  On Sunday, August 14, 1904, at 5:50 am, Hannah Desmond died from an undisclosed illness.

Chief Desmond was grief-stricken by Hannah’s death.  His sister moved into the Desmond home at 4290 Page.  She would take over the rearing of William Desmond, Jr.  Desmond would never marry again.  No one could replace Hannah.

Unfortunately, we don’t have much information about Hannah McLaughlin Desmond.  We know she was a Catholic, who married one of the greatest detectives in St. Louis Police history.  We know Hannah was highly regarded in St. Louis society during her short life.  We know she left a young son and died way too young.  It’s too bad we don’t know more.

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Sources: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 13, 1897 edition, p. 1, January 7, 1903 edition, p. 1 and August 15, 1904 edition, p. 6

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