Deputy Constable Edward P. Neu

Edward P. Neu

Deputy Constable Edward Neu was shot to death during a traffic stop in front of 8240 Gravois Road.

At 9:45 pm, Deputy Neu pulled over an automobile, towing another automobile, for speeding. As Deputy Neu dismounted from his motorcycle, three men exited their vehicles with guns drawn. They disarmed Deputy Neu and shot him twice. As he fell to the ground he was shot two more times. Deputy Nue's brother, also a constable, off duty and unarmed, and another man ran to the area where they heard the shots. Both were forced to take cover as the three suspects opened fire. The suspects then fled in their automobile leaving the one they were towing behind.

It was discovered the abandoned automobile was stolen and had been used the day before in St. Louis by several men during the armed robbery of a mail truck which netted the robbers $260,000, and two million in negotiable bonds. It was soon learned the suspects involved in Deputy Neu's murder and the mail truck robbery were members of the infamous "Eagan Gang", labeled by police and the public as "Eagans Rats". Weeks later officials identified two suspects responsible for Deputy Neu's murder after questioning several suspects arrested for the mail truck robbery and several road houses all over St. Louis County.

On June 10, 1923, Patrolman Edward Griffin of the St. Louis Police Department stopped at the Telegraph Inn in St. Louis County after he went off duty. He attempted to take action when several men announced an armed robbery. As he drew his revolver one of the suspects shot and killed him and then they all fled in an automobile. A few miles away the suspects shot and killed one of their own and threw him from the car. Several suspects, later apprehended, killed their accomplice because because they feared he was a snitch.

One suspect was identified as Patrolman Griffin's killer, convicted of murder, and sentenced to life. He was also one of the two responsible for Deputy Nue's murder. His accomplice had been arrested weeks earlier. The Grand Jury refused to return a true bill of indictment against the two because they said there was not enough evidence. In 1931 the case was reopened after gang members in prison, some convicted of the mail truck robbery, accused Patroman Griffin's killer as the one who murdered Constable Neu. Again a grand jury said there was not enough evidence and refused to return a bill of indictment. He was released in January of 1948 despite the fact that he escaped in 1945 and remained at large for four months before being recaptured. All who were questioned throughout all the investigations said they did not know the third suspect or refused to divulge his identity.

Deputy Neu was survived by his fiancee.