The Meramec Trust Robbery in 1919

On Thursday, Birželis 12, 1919, Earl Hunter and Charles Bergman, Atleidimas po sąžiningai žodį ir ex-nuteistajam, pakėlė MERAMEC Trust Company netrukus po to, kai atidarytas 07:00 a.m. The robbery was not well planned and even more poorly executed. Virginia Avenue ir MERAMEC gatvės kampe buvo viena iš judriausių gatvių automobilių blokų mieste. The robbers had barely gotten their loot and headed towards the street, when they spotted a police sergeant.

The police sergeant, William O’Brien, was the brother of Chief O’Brien. 1919 į 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.

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.

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 metai.

Hunter was 23 metai. 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. Jis buvo 45 metai.

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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