33 Years a City Policeman
by Dan McLaughlin Copyright 1957
Detective Captain Roy T. Shephard recalls the good old days of being on the Dayton Police force. The article appeared in the Journal Herald July 9, 1957
The Abduction of Angeline Stewart
by Howard Burba Copyright 1933
The kidnapping and murder of a 12 year old girl from Dayton in 1867. This article appeared in the Dayton Daily News on December 3, 1933
Albert Frantz's Application to Set Aside Execution
by George Ewing Copyright 1900
Albert Frantz was found guilty of killing Bessie Little and sentenced to death. This is his application to have the sentence changed to life imprisonment. The application was excerpted from the Annual Reports for 1899 made to the Seventh-four General Assembly of the State of Ohio.
Captain Amos Clark: Dayton Deputy Marshall and Policeman
by retired Dayton Sgt. Steve Grismer Copyright 2012 All Rights Reserved
The 1850s-1890s lawman is an enigmatic figure in local history
The Colorful Career of Dayton Slim
by Howard Burba Copyright April 30, 1933
The history of Charles Stimmel, who eventually went to the electric chair for murder.
Constitutions and By-Laws of Dayton Police Benevolent Assn.
by Dayton Police Benevolent Association Committee Copyright 1947
Articles involving membership and rules for the association.
The Curfew Tolls the Knell of Parting Day
by Lulu B. Sollers Copyright 1943
During WWII juvenile criminal delinquency "become a menace to the preservation of public peace, safety, health, morals", so a curfew was set for minors under fifteen years old.
Darke County's Most Cruel Crime
by Howard Burba Copyright 1932
The murder of Charlotte Leis by her son-in-law Christian Oelchlager in her home near Greenville in 1891. The article appeared in the Dayton Daily News on December 4, 1932
The Day They Hung John McAfee
by Howard Burba Copyright 1930
The first person to be hung for murder in Dayton, which took place in 1825 after he murdered his wife. The article appeared in the Dayton Daily News on November 23, 1930
The Day They Caught 'Red' Leary
by Howard Burba Copyright 1934
A famous bad man of old, who got caught in Dayton in 1874. This article appeared in the Dayton Daily News on February 18, 1934
Dayton History Police Exhibit - 2008
by retired Sgt. Steve Grismer Copyright 2008 All Rights Reserved
In 2008 a six-month exhibit opened at Carillon Park whose theme was "Patrolling the Streets of Dayton". The exhibit told the story of the Dayton police force using photographs, artifacts and text. The text for the exhibit has been reproduced here.
Reprinted here with permission of the author, Stephen Grismer
The Dayton Hostage Negotiation Team
by retired Sgt. Steve Grismer Copyright 2010
The history of how the Dayton Hostage Negotiation Team (HNT) came into existence.
Reproduced here with the author's permission
Dayton Police Ballistic Department in the 1930s
by various authors Copyright 1933 & 1934
This series of six articles that appeared various Dayton newspapers chronicle the beginnings of the Dayton Police ballistic laboratories in the 1930s.
Decade by Decade Dayton Police Bullet Points
by Sgt. Stephen C. Grismer (retired) Copyright 2010
This article covers one fact per decade for each of the 21 decades the Dayton Police Department has existed.
Published here with permission of the author
A Death-Bed Murder Confession
by Howard Burba Copyright 1934
The murder of Christine Kett in 1867 wasn't solved until 1884, and that was only due to the last minute confession of the murderer before dying
Did Mary Knight Murder Her Mother?
by Howard Burba Copyright November 22, 1931
A murder mystery that took place in 1895.
The Downfall of Chief Farrell
by Howard Burba Copyright April 25, 1937
Dayton Police Chief Thomas J. Farrell was forced to resign in 1900.
Farm Products Feed Prisoners
by James W. Russell Copyright 1942
Due to food restrictions during WWII prisoners at the Dayton Workhouse were put to work gardening so that they could produce their own food. This article appeared in the City of Dayton Annual Report for 1942.
Five Beautiful Girls Murdered
author unknown Copyright 1909
An article published in the Wilkes Barre Times newspaper on February 8, 1909, reports of five unsolved murders over a period of eight years, thought to possibly have been committed by "Jack the Strangler".
Gibbeted - Execution of a Youthful Murderer
by Laficado Hearn Copyright 1876
Description of the execution of Dayton murderer James Murphy, who had to be hung twice
Cincinnati Commerical newspaper, August 26, 1876
Greene County's Queerest Crime
by Howard Burba Copyright 1932
How a man was tried and acquitted of a murder, then later retried and sentenced to hang for the same crime. But that isn't the final twist of the tale... This article appeared in the Dayton Daily News on October 30, 1932
History of the Police Department of Dayton, Ohio
Published by John C. Whitaker Copyright 1907
The Dayton Police Department from its earliest times to October 1, 1907
Life and Confession of John M'Affee
by John McAffee Copyright 1825
John McAffee murdered his wife and became the first murderer to be executed in Dayton
Life and Crimes of Francis Dick
by Dayton Gazette newspaper Copyright 1854
An account of the murder of Mrs. Young and her son, Jimmy, by Francis Dick in 1854
Matriarch Murder
by Roz Young Copyright May 8 and May 15, 1993
Mary Knight is found guilty of murdering her mother, Catherine Hark, in 1895
Murder of a Dayton Editor
by Howard Burba Copyright December 21, 1930
How the Civil War helped cause the murder of a newspaper editor in 1862.
The Nation's Dean of Police Chiefs - Rudolph Wurstner
by retired Dayton Sgt. Steve Grismer Copyright 2010 All Rights Reserved
A tale of Chief Wurstner's incredible 47 year career with the Dayton Police Department
Reproduced here with the author's permission
The Night of the Policemen's Ball
by Howard Burba Copyright 1934
Entertainment at a ball held for Dayton policemen in 1890. The article appeared in the Dayton Daily News on October 14, 1934.
The Old Beavertown Pike Mystery
by Howard Burba Copyright 1937
Tracking the murderer of Julius Kruse, who was killed on Beavertown Pike on October 18, 1897. This article appeared in the magazine supplement of the Dayton Daily News, Sunday, January 31, 1937
The Old Vandenberg Diamond Case
by Howard Burba Copyright 1934
A case of theft causes an uproar in the Dayton Police Department in 1891. The article appeared in the Dayton Daily News on May 27, 1934.
A Poison Mystery That Didn't Pan Out
by Howard Burba Copyright January 19, 1936
A suspicious poisoning of a wealthy farmer back in 1900.
Police Collar Clergyman for Murder
by Roz Young Copyright July 24, 1993
In 1891 Rev. Charles M. J. Clark is accused of murdering his wife in order to marry someone else
Poor Albert Frantz - Bessie Little's Sad Story Brings Back Memories
by Roz Young Copyright October 6, 2000
The murder of Bessie Little is remembered in a song
Rest In Peace
by Roz Young Copyright December 1, 1990
Bessie Little's grave marker is restored
Rules and Regulations of the Division of Police, Dayton, Ohio
by Dayton Police Department Copyright 1920
Manual guide for policemen in 1920s. Lists duties, rules, police boxes, etc.
September 1896
by Roz Young Copyright September 14, 1991
September 1896 was a busy one, with the murder of Bessie Little and Dayton's Centennial celebration
A Serious Warning to Young Men
by John McAffee Copyright 1825
A confession in verse by John McAffee, Dayton's first man to be executed for murder. Published as a broadside March 28th, 1825.
The Slaying of Two Town Marshals
by Howard Burba Copyright 1934
In 1884 both Wilmington's Marshal Van Doren and Eaton's Marshal Ryan were murdered. The article appeared in the Dayton Daily News on June 3, 1934.
Some Excerpts from the Policewomen's Bureau
by Lula B. Sollers Copyright 1941
How the dance halls, beer gardens and bingo places were creating domestic problems in 1941.
The Story of the Bessie Little Bridge
by Roz Young Copyright September, 1990
Over a period of five weeks in 1990 Roz wrote several articles on the murder of Bessie Little. They have been collected here.
The Story of the Police "Bank Flyer" and its "Flying Squadron"
by Steve Grismer Copyright 2009 All Rights Reserved
The story of how a vintage police photo and its historical account came together.
Reprinted here with permission of the author
The Time They Caught 'Fritzie' Dhein
by Howard Burba Copyright 1934
Dhein, from Dayton, was the John Dillinger of the Gay 'nineties. Published in the Dayton Daily News May 20, 1934
This County's Last Hanging
by Howard Burba Copyright 1930
The murder of Henry Mulharren by Harry Adams on February 13, 1876. Published in Dayton Daily News on November 16, 1930
The Tragic Side of Two Lives
by Howard Burba Copyright 1934
The tale of two women who were involved in crime over 100 years ago. The article appeared in the Dayton Daily News on April 22, 1934
Two-Way Radio for Police
by Perry E. Benton Copyright 1940
Dayton police decided to buy two-way radios for their police cars in order to protect President Franklin D. Roosevelt during his visit to Dayton. This article appeared in the City of Dayton Annual Report for 1940.
When Police Patrol First Stepped Across the Color Line
by retired Dayton Sgt. Steve Grismer Copyright 2010 All Rights Reserved
A history of Dayton's first African-American police officers.
Reproduced here with author's permission
Who Murdered N. Greer McClure?
by Howard Burba Copyright 1934
The unsolved murder of McClure, whose body was found in the canal in 1877. The article appeared in the Dayton Daily News on January 14, 1934
A Wild Night at Washington C.H.
by Howard Burba Copyright 1932
A near-lynching cost the lives of several citizens of Washington Court House on October 17, 1894. The article appeared in the Dayton Daily News on June 26, 1932.
