Sergeant Peletiah Jenks was shot and killed when he attempted to disarm, a woman who was waving a firearm around in a vacant lot near Biddle and Eighth Streets.

On October 8, 1883, Sergeant Jenks was walking his beat on Biddle Street. He saw a large crowd shouting in a vacant lot. A woman was standing in the center of the crowd brandishing a pistol. Sergent Jenks walked up behind her and grabbed her arm. During the brief struggle the women turned and fired her pistol at Sergeant Jenks. Sergeant Jenks fell to the ground as the woman ran off. Officers responded form the nearby Third District Station. One of the officers, James Condon, followed the suspect and took her into custody. Officers took Sergeant Jenks to his residence where he died several hours later.

The suspect was a well-known prostitute who had been threatening to kill anyone that came near her that day. She stated that she had not realized that it was a police officer that she had shot after he grabbed her arm but that she had been so angry as to be willing to shoot anyone who came near her. Sadie Hays was set to be hanged on January 1, 1886, but the courts granted a reprieve. On January 24, 1887, she was allowed to plead guilty to murder in the second degree, and she was sentenced to 99 years in prison

Sergeant Jenks had been a member of the St. Louis Police Department for 15 years joining the force in 1868 at the age of 28. He was promoted to sergeant one year later due to his efficient and zealous service. He was survived by his wife and several children. Interred: Bellefontaine Cemetery, Saint Louis, MO.