Hannah McLaughlin Desmond (1879 – 1904)

Al gener 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. Però, he was clearly smitten with Hannah McLaughlin.

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

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.

Sr. 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 Fira Mundial, 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. Però, in August 1904, Hannah Desmond did suffer serious illness. On Sunday, Agost 14, 1904, en 5:50 sóc, Hannah Desmond va morir d'una malaltia no revelada.

El cap Desmond es va afligir per la mort de Hannah. La seva germana es va traslladar a la casa de Desmond a 4290 Pàgina. Ella es faria càrrec de la criança de William Desmond, Jr. Desmond no es tornaria a casar mai més. Ningú podria substituir a Hannah.

Desafortunadament, no tenim molta informació sobre Hannah McLaughlin Desmond. Sabem que era catòlica, que es va casar amb un dels detectius més grans de St. Història Policia Louis. Sabem que Hannah era molt apreciada a St. Louis durant la seva curta vida. Sabem que va deixar un fill petit i va morir massa jove. És una llàstima que no en sabem més.

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

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