Old School St. Louis Criminals

For the Sunday, June 24, 1900 edition of the St. Louis Republic, a reporter interviewed St. Louis Chief of Detectives William Desmond about the increasing violence of the new criminal.  After 10 years as St. Louis Chief of Detectives and one of the most noted thief takers in United States, Chief Desmond lamented the increasing violence he was seeing out of the “hobo burglar”.

Chief Desmond told the reporter that when he was a young detective, he took great pride in catching the old school professional burglar.  Chief Desmond cited their intelligence and gentlemanly ways, when not involved in their criminal activities, as some of the noted characteristics.  Desmond said most of these men would not resort to violence but would surrender before shedding blood.

Chief Desmond singled out ” Big” John Wilson, Eddie Guern, Colonel Parker and Henry Watson as burglars of the old school.  “Big” John Wilson was an Irish boiler maker.  A well-spoken man, who mixed well with people, he stole a number of diamonds from a Downtown Shop.  The proprietors never could figure out how Wilson took them.

Eddie Guern would take bank notes from the bank counter, while a confederate distracted the teller.  After getting out of the Missouri penitentiary, Guern plied the same trade in England and Germany before being caught by French police.

Henry “Nip” Watson specialized in relieving actors and actresses of diamonds.  Chief Desmond said Watson was one of the handsomest and best dressed men in St. Louis.  For a long time, no one in St. Louis society realized he actually made a living as a burglar and thief.

Chief Desmond seemed to have the most respect for a confidence man from Texas, Colonel Parker.  In the early 1880s, Colonel Parker convinced many St. Louis businessmen that he had a large herd of cattle headed to the stockyards in East St. Louis, Illinois.  Chief Desmond was a young detective at the time.

Several businessmen bid against each other to try to earn Colonel Parker’s patronage.  After he stayed in St. Louis for several months but no cattle showed up, some of the men began to ask him questions.  Colonel Parker skipped his hotel with most of the hotel’s silverware.

Then Detective Desmond and his partner caught Colonel Parker in a small Illinois town.  After they brought Parker back to St. Louis, the Colonel developed an illness.  Despite being taken to the City Hospital, Colonel Parker quickly deteriorated and passed away.  Chief Desmond sounded almost thankful that Colonel Parker didn’t have to go to prison.

Chief Desmond did not have such fond recollections of the new school criminals, which I will cover in a July post.  Chief Desmond resented the violent ways of the daring but unintelligent new school criminals.

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