Deputy Constable Mull and Deputy Sheriff Hammond were stabbed and killed by a prisoner they were escorting to jail.

On April 28, 1836, the steamboat Flora came to St. Louis from Pittsburgh and Deputy Mull had arrested one of the boat hands for fighting. The Flora's second steward, Francis McIntosh interfered with the arrest allowing the boat hand to escape. Deputy Mull took McIntosh into custody for interfering with the arrest. McIntosh was taken before Justice of the Peace, Patrick Walsh, who issued a warrant and directed McIntosh be taken from courthouse to the jail. Deputy Hammond met Deputy Mull along the way to the jail and offered to assist the middle-sized Deputy Mull escort the larger prisoner. During their walk to the jail McIntosh ate peanuts he removed from his pocket. As they came to a point where they were about 2 blocks from the jail, McIntosh removed a large knife from his pocket and attempted to stab Deputy Mull who evaded the suspect's first effot. McIntosh then plunged the knife into Deputy Mull's right side as Deputy Hammond grabbed McIntosh by the collar. Turning toward Deputy Hammond, McIntosh fatally stabbed him in the neck, severing his jugular vein. Deputy Mull, despite being severely wounded was still able to pursue McIntosh on foot spreading the alarm to the people in the vicinity who in turn pursued McIntosh, disarmed him and delivered him to the jail. As news of the savage attack spread, an angry crowd gathered and overpowered the sheriff, broke into the jail cell, removed McIntosh and lynched him. The suspect reputedly had previously been put off another steamship, the Pawnee, for stabbing another crew member.

Deputy Sheriff Hammond died at the scene. He was survived by his wife, Eliza Ward, and children, Eliza Ann, William and Abner.

Deputy Constable Mull suffered from his wound for days but eventually succumbed to his injury.

In 1836 St. Louis had an estimated population of 15,000. At the time of an article written about this incident it was noted that there was currently twenty-five steamboats at the wharf in St Louis.

Article by Brent Marchant