Mother Confesses to Chief Desmond

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Over his 17 year career, St. Louis Chief of Detectives William Desmond dealt with many criminal’s family members.  Some family members were as bad or worse than the criminal Chief Desmond and his men had locked up.  However, many family members were honest, hard-working people, who struggled to understand what went wrong with their loved one. Early in his career

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Chief Desmond Driven From Office

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“For the good of the department”.  With those 6 words, the St. Louis Board of Police Commissioners removed St. Louis Chief of Detectives William Desmond from the position he held for 17 years.  They replaced him with Desmond’s ex-assistant James Smith, who was dismissed by the previous board. How did one of the greatest, if not the greatest, detectives in

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Chief Desmond Discovers Murder

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On February 10, 1897, 60-year-old William H. Stewart, a civil engineer, died in St. Louis City Hospital.  Stewart passed away from a morphine overdose.  St. Louis Police originally thought it was a case of suicide or accidental overdose. Stewart lived with his son-in-law F.C. Bennett at 2634 Dickson Street.  Mr. Bennett categorically denied Mr. Stewart used drugs of any kind. 

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Chief Desmond Gets a Confession

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St. Louis Chief of Detectives William Desmond was known for his ability to gain confessions from criminals.  Unlike other detectives, who would sometimes use physical intimidation, Desmond eschewed the “third degree”.  Chief Desmond believed information obtained by beating suspects was completely unreliable. Desmond would start a discussion with the suspect.  After putting him or her at ease, Desmond would let

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Lord Barrington Is Beaten Up

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Thief. Liar. Bigamist. Con Man. Murderer.  All accurate labels for one of the greatest charlatans to operate in St. Louis.  “Lord F. Seymour Barrington” was a bit of a local celebrity, if an extremely disreputable one, during 1903.  After conducting a bigamist marriage on the East Coast, “Lord Barrington” stole his wife’s trousseau and headed to St. Louis. When Barrington

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William Desmond Passes Away

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On Tuesday, July 4, 1916, former St. Louis Chief of Detectives William Desmond passed away after an illness of two years.  Desmond was in Alexian Brothers Hospital from October 1915 until his death on Independence Day 1916.  The 59-year-old Desmond left a 12-year-old son, William Desmond, Jr.  Chief Desmond’s wife died several years before him. For 17 years from 1890

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Chief Desmond Solves Cooper Killing

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On Thursday, January 23, 1902, St. Louis awakened to the news millionaire A. Deane Cooper was found murdered in the Vista Bathhouse at Franklin Avenue and North Grand Boulevard.  Cooper, one of St. Louis’ wealthiest men, owned residential real estate and other assets valued at 2 million dollars.  Cooper aspired to be the biggest property owner in St. Louis.  He

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