William T. Cavanaugh
Agency: Kansas City Police Department, MO
On April 7, 1936, Officer William T. Cavanaugh, 32, was off-duty, sitting in the Irish Tavern at 921 East 21st Street with his fiance when a man entered and attempted a hold-up. Cavanaugh was in street clothes but fired on the robber, who returned fire. The robber fled the tavern, and Cavanaugh pursued him. Cavanaugh was shot several times - including the wrist of his gun hand - but still managed to wound the robber before he got away. Cavanaugh died at General Hospital on April 8, 1936. A $200 reward was issued for the capture of his killer. The killer was found and captured April 11, 1936, the day of Cavanaugh's funeral.
The 32-year-old suspect was convicted of first degree murder and was the first person to be put to death in Missouri's new gas chamber on March 4, 1938.
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