William L. "Dutch" Hauserman
Agency: Kansas City Police Department, MO
William Hauserman was born in April of 1886 in Junction City, Kansas to parents Louis and Lena Hauserman.
Officer Hauserman was a member of the department's "strong arm squad" responsible for keeping down vice in the Walnut Street Station district. His squad had frequently raided the saloon at 1204 Troost and Officer Hauserman had been the target of many threats by the saloon's owner, John Brennan. Brennan also threatened to use his influence with a friend of his, Tom Pendergast, to get even with the officers for raiding his establishment and harassing him.
On January 31st, 1915, as Officer Hauserman was using the telephone at the DeMayo's Candy Shop at 12th and Troost, John Brennan walked up behind the officer and shot him in the back. As Officer Hauserman turned towards his assailant, Brennan fired another shot at Officer Hauserman's head, killing him in front of four witnesses. Officer Hauserman was pronounced dead at General Hospital. Brennan was caught, confessed to shooting Officer Hauserman and was prosecuted for 1st degree murder. Brennan was convicted on October 15, 1915 of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison.
Officer Hauserman, 28, was survived by his wife. Services for Officer Hauserman were conducted with a fifty officer honor guard at Freeman & Marshall Funeral Home on February 2, 1915 at 2:30 pm.
Reflections:
References: