The Way It Was

Friday, February 3, 2006

100 years ago

Crawford Brothers minstrel show visits area

Chief of Police James returned home on the early morning train from Webb City, where he visited his son who is with Crawford Brothers minstrels. Marshal James states the people at Carthage say the Crawford Brothers show is the best and cleanest show that has ever visited that town. He also says that the man who attempted to attach the company's baggage at Monett attempted to do the same thing at Webb City but failed besides causing many people to feel very indigent toward him.

This man formerly started a show and upon failure to pay the Crawford Bros. they left him and now the man claims damages but has never secured or even attempted to secure judgment against the boys and consequently has no grounds for an attachment.

50 years ago

Believe St. Louis man shot by gangsters

ST. LOUIS -- Police believe a professional killer carried out the gang -- style shooting of Robert L. Brown, 41-year-old parliamentarian of St. Louis Board of Aldermen.

"The way he was hit indicates whoever did the shooting had killed before," Chief of Detectives James Chapman said yesterday in discussing the nine day old slaying

Browns body was found in an alley near his north St. Louis home Jan. 24. The wholesale tobacco dealer was seen getting into another car just after parking his auto in front of his home. He was found 15 minutes later, shot four times.