Den Meramec Förtroende Rån i 1919

På torsdag, Juni 12, 1919, Earl Hunter och Charles Bergman, en parolee och före detta straffånge, höll upp Meramec Trust Company strax efter det öppnade på 07:00 a.m. The robbery was not well planned and even more poorly executed. Hörnet av Virginia Avenue och Meramec Street var en av de mest trafikerade gata bilen block i staden. 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 till 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 och Bergmann erkände rånet och en serie brott under de senaste månaderna. Hunter and Bergman were sentenced to life, escaping the death penalty, Medan väst dömdes till 30 år.

Jägare var 23 år gammal. Han skulle avtjäna sin mening fram till juni 27, 1946, När han var parolerad. Han avslutade sin prövning 1951. Hunter dog i oktober 4, 1970.

Bergman dog på fängelsesjukhuset i april 12, 1942. Han var 45 år gammal.

West var parolerad i 1935 men fick problem med federala myndigheter. Han tillbringade tid innan han blev parolerad av medicinska skäl i 1954. Alvin West kan ha dött i Kansas City i augusti 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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