Arthur M. Dorsett
Agency: Kansas City Police Department, MO
Arthur Dorsett was born on January 1, 1876 in Missouri.
On August 6, 1917, Detective Arthur M. Dorsett and Detective John Clifford were attempting to recover a valuable stolen bulldog from the apartment of a known confidence man, William David Jones, at 1023 Charlotte when the man ran from the room and returned with a gun. The officers were caught by surprise, and both were shot before they could draw their weapons. Dorsett managed to reach his gun and wounded the attacker before collapsing. Detective Clifford drew his revolver but it malfunctioned allowing the cylinder to drop out of the weapon. The attacker escaped, but an intensive manhunt found him the following day. On October 4th, 1917, the last day of the man's murder trial, Officer Dorsett's wife was in the courtroom and produced a gun, she shot at and seriously wounded the suspect. As Court Officers subdued the grief-stricken woman, spectators chanted, "Shoot him again...shoot him again." The suspect was found guilty and sentenced to 50 years in prison.
Detective Dorsett was taken to St. Mary's hospital where he underwent surgery for a stomach wound. Detective Dorsett died from his wounds on August 7, 1917 at 12:50 am.
Detective Dorsett, 41, was survived by his wife, Anna, and fourteen year-old daughter.
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