Tag: Police History

On November 16, 1877, St. Louis Police Officer John S. White and his partner Officer Heffernan responded to a report of a wanted man tried to pawn stolen merchandise at Wright’s Pawnshop. The man later identified as Frank Rande entered Wright’s Pawnshop at about 9:30 a.m. Wright sent one of his assistants for the police. As Officer White and Heffernan […]

St. Louis Chief of Detectives William Desmond would be primarily responsible for the security of the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair.  Prior to the fair opening in April 1904, Desmond played a critical role in St. Louis’ boodling investigation. During his boodling investigation, St. Louis Circuit Attorney Joseph “Holy Joe” Folk indicted City Councilman Charles Kratz for taking bribes or […]

I have always said the St. Louis Streetcar Strike of 1900 was not the story of the evil streetcar companies exploiting the innocent workers.  “The innocent workers” committed many deplorable acts during the streetcar strike. One of their most frequent tactics involved stripping woman in public who rode the streetcars during the strike.  Amazingly, their victims were young and attractive […]

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’ […]

On September 9, 1893, Frisco line brakeman James Pennock boarded the Frisco Line at Tower Grove in St. Louis.  At the Cheltenham stop, Frisco brakeman Sam Robertson and former brakeman Muncie Ray also boarded.  The men boarded the train with the intent of robbing the train at Sandy Cut, two miles east of Pacific, MO. When the train got close […]

On Friday, October 21, 1904, one of the greatest tragedies in St. Louis Police history occurred when two train robbers and three St. Louis Police detectives died in a shootout.  The gunfight occurred in a small hotel room on Pine Street. Two days later on Sunday, October 23, 1904, a burglar attempted to gain entry to a realty office at […]

On August 31, 1901, Night Watchman William Doherty discovered Willis Garner burglarizing the office of Schickle, Harrison and Howard Iron Company at 912 S. Twelfth Street in St. Louis, Missouri.  The iron company employed Garner, who threw a hammer at Doherty’s head.  The hammer missed its target but the confusion allowed Garner to jump out the window and make his […]

On October 6, 1890, local barbers Luther Duncan and Bob Henderson stepped out on to N. 11th Street to settle a quarrel.  This area of St. Louis was known as “Deep Morgan”.  “Deep Morgan” was home to bordello, flop houses and the toughest African-Americans saloon in the city, Starkes’ Saloon.  Both Duncan and Henderson were black barbers, who worked in […]

On December 3, 1896, three men entered the Home Brewery Office in St. Louis at around 2:30 p.m.  Cashier Robert Hofferkamp approached the men.  The men produced revolvers and told Hofferkamp and his assistant to throw up their hands. The men took $10,000 from the office in what would be a multi-million dollar heist today.  The robbers tied up and […]

St. Louis Chief of Detectives William Desmond created a bit of a mystery in January 1903, when he attempted to sneak off and get married.  It was to be the 45-year-old Desmond’s first marriage.  Chief Desmond was to marry Hannah McLaughlin, the daughter of a local builder.  The couple was to honeymoon in Southern California before returning to St. Louis […]