Posts about police history with special emphasis on St. Louis police history.
During the last week of December 1902, William Rudolph, a recently returned miner to Franklin County, and George Collins robbed the Union Bank in Union, MO. They robbed it overnight, when no one was present by blowing up the safe. Rudolph returned to his parents’ cabin in Stanton, MO. He and his accomplice hid out until the Franklin County Sheriff […]
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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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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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On the morning of Wednesday, July 8, 1885, the Coroner’s Clerk Jimmy Spaulding rushed into the Police Court at the Four Courts building. Spaulding announced one of the jail inmates waiting in the holding pen had just escaped. While most of the members of court sat stunned, Detective Billy Desmond jumped to his feet and rushed out of the courtroom. […]
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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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On Saturday, May 5, 1900 at 11:30 p.m., the explosion of the Suburban Line at the Wabash and Sarah Street railroad crossing marked the beginning of the St. Louis Street Car Strike of 1900. Before the strike was over in September 1900, the streets of St. Louis would be a battle ground between rich and poor with the St. Louis […]
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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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When unknown men shot Officer Michael Walsh on a cold, foggy night during December 1880, St. Louis Police believed the suspect may be saloon and grocery burglars working in the area. However, St. Louis detectives had been unable to find the burglary team. A chatty prisoner cleared up the mystery in April 1881. Police arrested Charlie Wilson with his friend Tom Higgins […]
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This post is an unedited excerpt from my newest book to be released in Fall or early Winter 2017. William Rudolph’s trial delayed George Collins’ execution to later in the day on March 27, 1904. Normally, executions occurred at dawn. Prior to being escorted to the gallows, Sheriff Bruch allowed Collins to say goodbye to Rudolph. Collins walked into the […]
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It was very cold on the morning of Sunday, December 5, 1880, about 2 a.m., when St. Louis Police Officer Sheehan found the front door open to John R. Lionberger’s home. Owing to the bitter cold, Sheehan feared burglars had entered the residence. Sheehan rang the bell repeatedly but could not awaken anyone inside. Sheehan began rapping his night stick against the […]
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