On
Monday, September 20, 1948, two officers,
Charles Neaves, 30, and Sandy Washington,
26, were dispatched to 1334 Paseo on a
disturbance call. The two officers had
responded to a call at that address two
days earlier and arrested William Bell,
on the complaint of Mrs. Helen Rainey.
When
the officers arrived they found a drinking
party in progress. They informed William
Bell, who was participating, that he was
in violation of the conditions of his
Peace Bond and would have to accompany
them to police headquarters.
George
Bell, William's brother, objected to the
arrest and was subsequently told to come
along. On the pretense of looking for
his coat George Bell suddenly produced
a shotgun and fired point blank at Officer
Neaves, striking him in the stomach, and
killing him.
While
trying to escape from the apartment, Officer
Washington was shot and killed by William
Bell with the same shotgun. William also
killed Officer Charles Perrine, 45, with
a riot gun taken from a police vehicle.
William wounded Sergeant William Wells,
34, and Officer Keiffer Burris, 34, before
he was killed. Also slain was Edwin Burton
Warren, 27, an innocent bystander.
On
December 8, 1948, George Bell, charged
with slaying Officer Neaves was given
the death penalty by a Circuit Court Jury.
The jury returned its verdict to Judge
Dewey P. Thatch after deliberating for
four hours and twenty-two minutes.
On
February 11, 1949, George Bell was transferred
from the county jail to the State Penitientiary
in Jefferson City, Missouri. He was sentenced
to die on March 25, 1949 in the lethal
gas chamber.
Because of an appeal pending in the Missouri
Supreme Court, George Bell was not executed
until December 2, 1949 at 12:01 a.m. George
Bell became the 25th person to be executed
by the State of Missouri.
Officer Charles Perrine was survived by
his brother, Officer Arthur Perrine Jr.
#573, who served from 1929 to 1934 and
later served as Chief of Police in Riverside,
MO from 1961-1963 and Municipal Judge
of Northmoor, MO from 1971-75. Arthur
Perrine Jr. passed away in June of 1994.
Lest
we forget