In the early autumn of 1904, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department received a tip regarding a trio of men suspected of robbing an Illinois Central train in August. Acting on information provided by a former prison guard, a team of detectives tracked the suspects to a rooming house located at 1324 Pine Street, a site now occupied by the Soldier's Memorial. On the afternoon of October 21, 1904, Detective James A.
McCluskey joined Detectives Thomas Dwyer, John Shea, and others to apprehend the men, who were identified as ex-convicts Harry Vaughn, Albert Rose, and William Morris.
As the officers approached the residence, they encountered Harry Vaughn exiting the building. He was immediately taken into custody and removed from the scene. The remaining detectives, including McCluskey, proceeded inside to confront the other two suspects who were holed up in a darkened room. When the officers breached the door, they were met with an immediate barrage of gunfire. A chaotic and violent shootout ensued, lasting approximately five minutes, during which the cramped quarters filled with smoke and bullets.
During the exchange, Detective Dwyer was the first to be struck, taking a bullet to the abdomen after kicking open the door. Despite his mortal wound, he managed to return fire, fatally striking suspect Albert Rose. Detective McCluskey, aged 33, entered the fray next and was also shot in the abdomen. Detective Shea was struck in the chest and died at the scene. The leader of the robbery gang, William Morris, was critically wounded but remained defiant, cursing the officers even as he was apprehended; he succumbed to his injuries two weeks later.
Detective McCluskey was transported to the City Hospital, where he fought for his life but passed away the following day, October 22, 1904. Detective Dwyer died just an hour after the shooting. The surviving suspect, Harry Vaughn, was initially sentenced to 27 years in prison for the robbery. However, his criminal career continued behind bars; he led a violent prison revolt in November 1905 that resulted in the deaths of two guards. Vaughn was subsequently convicted of murder for his role in the uprising and was executed by hanging on June 27, 1907.
