Missouri Concerns of Police Survivors

Constable Andrew King

Clay Co. Sheriff's Department

End of Watch: Sunday, July 2nd, 1911

Constable Andrew King and night Policeman Joe Roberts were in a struggle with prisoner John Gannon to put handcuffs on him. The stranger had given trouble about town for several days. The officers had quite a wrestle before they got the man behind the bars and those who witnessed the scuffle say that Constable King was jerked against the iron bars of the cell, striking his head, but as the room was poorly lighted they could not tell how much of an injury was inflicted. After the trouble at the jail the Constable walked to his home in the south end of town and seemed to be feeling fine when he arrived there, but soon became sick at the stomach and told the folks to call a physician as quick as possible evidently realizing that he was very ill. When the doctor arrived he was still rational but soon went into convulsions which resulted in death. Coroners inquest determined that Constable Andrew King died of a cerebral hemorrhage caused by head being knocked against the iron bars of the jail cell while scuffling with prisoner John Gannon. Successor to Constable position – On July 5, 1911 Clay Co. court appointed Omer King to succeed his father as constable of Fishing River Township. Omer has been a deputy for some time with Clay County. Andrew's brother John was former Sheriff of Clay Co. and his other brother James is Sheriff of Henry Co., Missouri. Prisoner John Gannon - On Wednesday, July 5, Clay Co. court found Gannon to be insane and the Sheriff took him to the state asylum at St. Joseph. Gannon had also been in jail in Centerville & Ottumwa Iowa, and in Leavenworth, KS. John Gannon's brother at one time was on the Leavenworth Police Department. Constable Andrew King was born August 21, 1855 in Clay Co. Constable King funeral was Tuesday July 4 at the Baptist Church in Excelsior Spring, MO with his burial in Crown Hill Cemetery. Andrew left behind an invalid wife Martha, children are Viola, Ethel and Omer (a Clay Co. Deputy Sheriff). He also had 5 brothers and sisters.

Last Updated 1/20/2005