Railroad Detective Herbert Mitchell Gash

Herbert Mitchell Gash

Railroad Detective Herbert Gash succumbed to gunshot wound sustained three days earlier while patrolling the Southern Railway's yards in East St. Louis, Illinois.

He and a railroad car inspector were walking along the railroad's right of way when they observed a man washing his face in a small pond. The inspector continued walking as Detective Gash began to speak to the man. The subject suddenly produced a handgun and shot Detective Gash in the abdomen.

Detective Gash returned fire as the subject fled on foot. He was taken to St. Mary's Hospital where he remained until succumbing to his wound three days later.

A 38-year-old ex-convict was arrested several weeks later and charged with murder. On May 4, 1959, he was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 9 years.

Detective Gash was a U.S. Army veteran. He was survived by his mother and four siblings. He was predeceased by one brother. He was buried in Mount Hope Cemetery in Belleville, Illinois.