St. Louis Detectives Catch Pickpocket

In 1904, St. Louis hosted the Louisiana Purchase Exhibition better known as the 1904 St. Louis’ Worlds Fair.  While the Fair brought lots of tourists to town, criminals also made their way to the Gateway City.

The man tasked with taking care of the security at the Fair and dealing with the increased criminal element in town was St. Louis’ Sherlock Holmes, St. Louis Chief of Detectives William Desmond.

“The Thief Taker’s” normal force of 54 men was doubled to 100 local detectives plus detectives from around the world.  Scotland Yard even sent two men to St. Louis.

On May 17, 1904, St. Louis Detective Frank McKenna and Hummell proved their efficiency.  While making their rounds at the Hotel Jefferson, Hummell called out, “Hello, Rufus.”  Rufus Woods was shocked.

Woods was known through out the United States as a diamond and hotel thief.  Woods tried to play it off by saying, “I beg your pardon, gentlemen.  You seem to have the advantage of me.”  McKenna and Hummell certainly did as they took him into custody and transported him to the Four Courts Building.

When they arrived with Woods at the Four Courts, Chief Desmond took him into his office.  Desmond had McKenna and Hummell search the prisoner.  The detectives found opium in capsule form as well as two diamonds removed from their mountings.

Woods claimed the diamonds came from a theft he committed in San Francisco.  During his “sweating” from Chief Desmond, Woods admitted to serving a penitentiary sentence in Toronto, Canada.  Police also arrested Woods at the Pan-American Exhbition in Buffalo, New York in 1901.

Woods normally worked with a female confederate.  Chief Desmond sent out a directive to his men to be on the look out for the female thief.  Woods wasn’t going anywhere soon.

Detective Frank McKenna would eventually be promoted to St. Louis Police Lieutenant, when he passed away from heart disease at 57 years of age in June 14, 1927.  McKenna was 34 year old at the time of the Woods arrest.

Chief Desmond, Detective McKenna and Detective Hummell would have to continue their good work through out the fair.  By the end of 1904, St. Louis Detectives would arrest almost 500 criminals who made their way to St. Louis.  Desmond personally sweated 318 of these  crooks.

What do you think of Chief Desmond and his men?  You can leave a comment or question on my Facebook page or Twitter profile.

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