The Meramec Trust Robbery in 1919
On Thursday, June 12, 1919, Earl Hunter and Charles Bergman, a parolee and ex-convict, held up the Meramec Trust Company shortly after it opened at 07:00 a.m. The robbery was not well planned and even more poorly executed. The corner of Virginia Avenue and Meramec Street was one of the busiest street car blocks in the city. The robbers had barely gotten their loot and headed towards the street, when they spotted a police sergeant.
Article about the robbery from the June 13, 1919 edition of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
The police sergeant, William O’Brien, was the brother of Chief O’Brien. 1919 to 1921 was particularly rough for police officers including Chief O’Brien who was shot by burglars in October 1919.
Hunter and Bergmann fired at Sgt. O’Brien. O’Brien returned fire alerting other First District policemen. The getaway driver, Alvin West, pulled away and left Hunter and Bergmann. Hunter and Bergmann later stated they thought all of South St. Louis was chasing them.
They tried to steal a passing wagon but it tipped over less than a block away. Hunter and Bergmann then broke into 4526 Minnesota Avenue. They went to the second floor but all the policeman descending on the house panicked the robbers. After slamming the door in the police officers’ face, they retreated to the rear of the house.
4526 Minnesota Avenue (Built in 1908) – Courtesy of Google Earth
Hunter and Bergmann observed Sgt. William Smith directing officers. Taking advantage of superior position, they shot him in the head and chest from the first floor. Running to the basement, they observed Patrolman Thomas Ward came down the outside steps to the basement.
Hunter and Bergmann had the advantage of cover. They shot Ward in the abdomen and stole Ward’s pistol before fleeing the basement. Ward died the morning of the shooting. Smith would die a month later after being promoted to Lieutenant.
Hunter and Bergmann exhausted their 72 rounds of ammunition. Policemen tackled Hunter in a backyard on Neosho. Bergmann got to a backyard off the intersection of Dakota Street and Michigan Avenue behind Minnesota Avenue but he was captured by Sgt. O’Brien. Over $1100 was recovered from Bergmann’s clothing, which he apparently intended to hide from Hunter. Ward’s pistol was found in the ash pit of the backyard.
Dakota Street and Michigan Avenue, Where Bergmann Was Captured – Google Earth
Hunter and Bergmann confessed to the robbery and a series of crimes over the past several months. Hunter and Bergman were sentenced to life, escaping the death penalty, while West was sentenced to 30 years.
Hunter was 23 years old. He would serve his sentence until June 27, 1946, when he was paroled. He completed his parole in 1951. Hunter died on October 4, 1970.
Bergman died in the prison hospital on April 12, 1942. He was 45 years old.
West was paroled in 1935 but got in trouble with federal authorities. He spent time before being paroled for medical reasons in 1954. Alvin West may have died in Kansas City on August 4, 1968.
Thomas Ward was 52 years old and took care of an invalid sister at 3627A Missouri Avenue in a four-family flat. William J. Smith was also 52 years old and was married. He and his wife owned a house at 3540 Vista Avenue, where he passed away due to his injures. Smith was born on Christmas Day 1866.
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Revised Cover of 1920: The Deadliest Year for St. Louis Police
