Officer Fatally Wounded Nabbing Killer

Em novembro 16, 1877, St. Louis Police Officer John S. White and his partner Officer Heffernan responded to a report of a wanted man tried to pawn stolen merchandise at Wright’s Pawnshop. The man later identified as Frank Rande entered Wright’s Pawnshop at about 9:30 A.M. Wright sent one of his assistants for the police.

As Officer White and Heffernan entered the pawn shop, Rande attempted to leave but White or Heffernan grabbed him. The other officer was speaking to James Morrison, who entered the pawn shop with Rande, when Rande began a brutal scuffle with the other officer. Rande was swinging his arms to break free and reach his waist.

During the struggle, Rande produced a single action revolver. To fire a single action revolver, the shooter must pull the hammer back into the firing position before the trigger will activate the round. Rande fired one shot, which he claims struck him in the leg even though he was aiming at Officer White. All the witnesses said that Rande shot White in the leg.

Ed Wright, the pawn shop owner, shot Rande in the leg and back allowing White and Heffernan to take Rande into custody. Rande claimed he was dying but did not receive any relief from Heffernan or the pawn shop workers. Rande later claimed that Heffernan abused him on their way to the City Dispensary.

Rande’s bullet severed an artery in Officer White’s leg causing a life-threatening wound. Doctors amputated his leg to save his life. However, Officer White continued to get worse before passing away on November 18, 1877.

Rande initially denied his crimes. When confronted with the evidence that he was a convicted burglar, who served two terms in Joliet, Illinois prison, he confessed his involvement in the crimes that were known.

Before coming to St. Louis and murdering Officer White, Rande had killed a man in Knox County, Illinois and three men in St. Elmo, Illinois.

Rande was born Charles Scott in Washington County, Pennsylvania on September 23, 1839. After running off with a woman that he later left penniless, Scott changed his name to Rande and began his criminal career.

Convicted of the four Illinois murders and sentenced to life in Joliet Penitentiary, Rande’s bravado disappeared. Em março 8, 1884, the 44-year-old Rande hung himself in his cell.

Officer White left a legacy as a brave officer who brought in a violent killer before he could add to his lengthy list of crimes.

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Source: Library of Congress Newspaper Archive

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