Police Arrest 3 Pickpockets at Funeral

In February 1903, Franz H. Hackmeier passed away. His funeral attracted over 2000 mourners. Special streetcars commissioned for the large funeral took the mourners west of Wellston, Missouri in St. Louis County.

St. Louis County officials requested assistance in dealing with possible criminal activity. Chief Desmond of the St. Louis Police detailed two detectives from his office, George Williams and William Brady, and Special Officer Joseph Rice of the Mounted District to watch for criminals at the funeral.

Detectives Williams and Brady captured John Foley at the funeral. John Foley was one of the most well known pickpockets in the country.

The Saturday, February 7, 1903 edition of the St. Louis Republic reported that John Foley had dozens of aliases and his record filled several pages in the Bertillion System at St. Louis Police Headquarters. Foley’s criminal career began January 24, 1889. Foley was sent to workhouse for a year on January 11, 1896 for picking a wallet from a woman’s purse.

Foley left St. Louis for a while but continued his criminal career in Chicago, Baltimore and Philadelphia. He served sentences of one to two years in both Baltimore and Pennsylvania. He came back to St. Louis in late 1902 possibly in anticipation of the upcoming St. Louis World’s Fair. He was still around St. Louis in 1905 when he was arrested for possession of stolen property.

The St. Louis Police also arrested two other men, who were common associates of Foley. At the time of the article, it was believed that no crimes were committed at the funeral. A much missed man was laid to rest in peace.

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