Patrolman Edward M. Conway

Edward M. Conway

Patrolman Edward Conway was shot and killed when he and his partner responded to a hold-up in progress call at a wholesale grocery store at 119 Dahlem Street in East Liberty.

The officers were investigating a minor car crash at the intersection of Frankstown Avenue and Lincoln Avenue when they were both notified by a local citizen of the hold-up in progress. As Patrolman Conway entered a back room behind the store, he was shot three times in his chest, side, and arm. The store owner, who was being held up by the suspect in the back room, grabbed Patrolman Conway's weapon and returned fire as the suspect fled the scene but missed him. Patrolman Conway's partner arrested the second suspect in the front of the store as he was opening up the safe.

Patrolman Conway was transported to Pittsburgh Hospital in a radio car where he died shortly after arrival.

During questioning, the arrested suspect admitted the identity of the suspect who murdered Patrolman Conway and escaped. The shooting suspect was arrested while sleeping in his Brushton home on Singer Place by city police detectives several hours after the shooting of Patrolman Conway. Both suspects were on parole at the time of the incident. The second suspect pleaded guilty to murder on October 9, 1939, and testified against the other suspect. He was sentenced to life imprisonment at Western Penitentiary. Patrolman Conway's killer pleaded not guilty and was found guilty of first-degree murder after eyewitness testimony and physical evidence. The suspect was executed in the electric chair on January 29, 1940.

While in prison, the second suspect maintained that he was unaware that he was pleading guilty to murder, that he was poorly represented by counsel, and that he was coerced into the robbery by Patrolman Conway's killer. In August 1960, the man's life sentence was commuted by the governor, and he was released from jail. The suspect filed for a post-conviction review of his guilty plea and was denied. The Pennsylvania State Supreme Court reversed the decision, and his guilty plea was subsequently sustained.

Patrolman Conway had served with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police for nine years and was assigned to the East End Police Station, present-day Zone 5 Police Station. He was survived by two sisters and one brother.