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William Smith

Case from Joplin, MO dated Nov 15, 1909

Victim Details

William Smith

Male

White / Caucasian

Joplin

MO

1909-11-15

42

William

Smith

07/29/2026

Case Description

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In the crisp autumn of 1909, a dedicated officer of the Joplin Police Department, Patrolman William Smith, would unknowingly walk his final beat. On November 15th, the 42-year-old patrolman was actively involved in a city-wide effort to clean up Joplin's image, a campaign spurred by the impending arrival of the famed evangelist Billy Sunday. As part of these efforts, Smith, alongside his partner Officer Tim Graney, conducted a raid on a known house of prostitution located at 802 Main Street. The ...
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Links to Additional Sources (5)

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  • William G. Smith - Missouri Law Enforcement Memorial
  • Patrolman William Smith, Joplin Police Department, Missouri
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    Forum Posts (3)

    I recently stumbled upon the tragic story of Patrolman William Smith, and my heart truly goes out to... ...Read More
    09/27/2023
    I've been reading up on the tragic shooting of Patrolman William Smith, and what really struck me is... ...Read More
    06/03/2023
    I've been reading about the tragic loss of Patrolman William Smith in 1909, and I keep thinking abou... ...Read More
    03/22/2023
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