Strange Case of “Toddy” Dillon

In May 1925, the lifeless body of Dr. William Dillon was found on a walking path. The divorcee was a prominent St. Louis physician, who lived hard and was a known lady’s man. St. Louis Police initially suspected a rival of Dillon’s shot the physically and socially powerful Dillon rather than fight him. However, suspicion eventually settled on Dillon’s 19-year-old son, Edward “Toddy” Dillon.

“Toddy” was living at a Kansas boarding school after a few run-ins with the local police over stolen automobiles and burglaries. Dr. Dillon, who doted on his son, sent “Toddy” away to school to give him a fresh start. It was also well-known that Dr. Dillon kept large life insurance policies “to take care of Toddy” after his death.

The authorities began to suspect “Toddy” may have wanted to speed up the process. First, he was missing from the boarding school a few days before and after his father was found murdered. Second, he purchased a .38 caliber revolver from a Kansas pawn shop a few days before the murder. His father was shot with a .38 caliber revolver. Third, “Toddy” was known to be in a tough financial condition at the time.

“Toddy” also was suspected of several crimes in Kansas. When a girl, who spurned his advances, was married, her family hired an armed guard to protect the wedding from possible violence perpetrated by “Toddy”. When he returned to St. Louis, “Toddy” absolutely refused to speak to police. They were never able to charge him.

However, six months later, “Toddy” was caught robbing a New York City bank. He was sent to the Elmira Reformatory for 4 and a half years of a 6-to-12-year sentence. Two of the three insurance companies refused to pay off on Dr. Dillon’s life insurance policies based on their suspicion that “Toddy” killed his father and his subsequent criminal convictions.

After being released from prison, “Toddy” traveled to Chicago, Illinois, where he robbed several people in hotels before being caught. “Toddy” was sent to the Illinois penitentiary, where he served from 1931 to 1938, was paroled, sent back to prison and paroled again.

“Toddy” wasn’t heard from for a while until he turns back up in 1959. “Toddy” attempted to kidnap a 4-year-old boy and his governess from a Pennsylvania home. “Toddy” said he was desperate for money and was hoping for a ransom after being arrested in his Manhattan apartment. This time authorities sent him to a mental health facility, which may be what he needed all along.

Police could never say with authority that “Toddy” shot his father. While they never had a better suspect, it is difficult to accuse someone of patricide without absolute proof. However, “Toddy” was obviously a very disturbed young man. The son of a doctor and grandson of a judge, he could not capitalize on these advantages to stay out of trouble. It was too bad for “Toddy” and many of the people, who encountered him.

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Sources: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, February 1, 1926 edition, p. 1, March 2, 1931 edition, p. 1, October 16, 1940 edition, p. 1 and October 14, 1915 edition, p. 1

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