On June 15, 1901, the Saint Louis community was shaken by the violent death of Probationary Police Officer Richard Delaney. The 29-year-old male, who had served with the department for only ten months, was killed in the line of duty while responding to a domestic disturbance call. The sequence of events began when a woman named Lulu Turner arrived at the Fourth District Station seeking assistance.
She reported to the captain that her husband, William Turner, a mule driver by trade, had threatened to stab her with a knife. In response to her plea for help, the captain ordered Officer Delaney and Patrolman Nicholas Roach to escort her back to her residence on North Seventh Street and take her husband into custody.
Upon arriving at the Turner home, the officers prepared to confront the suspect. Anticipating potential danger given the nature of the threats, Officer Delaney drew his revolver and led the way through the front door. Meanwhile, Patrolman Roach positioned himself to cover the rear basement exit to prevent any escape attempt. As Delaney stepped across the threshold, William Turner, who was waiting inside, immediately opened fire. The sudden barrage of six shots rang out, striking the young officer before he could effectively react. Patrolman Roach, hearing the gunfire, rushed to the front of the house only to witness his partner stagger down the steps and collapse to the ground, mortally wounded.
Following the shooting, William Turner managed to flee the scene, escaping across the river to East St. Louis. A manhunt ensued, and he was eventually tracked down and captured by the local Chief of Police in that jurisdiction. Turner, who was wounded during the capture, was returned to Saint Louis to face justice for the killing of the officer. He was subsequently prosecuted for the murder. The legal proceedings resulted in a conviction for second-degree murder, and the court handed down a sentence of ten years in prison. However, he did not serve the full term; on March 24, 1904, just a few years into his sentence, William Turner was pardoned by Governor Alexander G. Dockery. Officer Delaney left behind a wife and two children, his life cut short less than a year into his service.
