Officer James Brady was shot to death when he attempted to arrest a man at a saloon.

Officer Gaffney was patrolling his beat when he noticed a crowd in front of Stark's saloon at 715 N. Eleventh Street. Anticipating trouble from the crowd he attempted to disburse the group telling them to move on. One man refused to comply and Officer Gaffney placed him under arrest. The man was enraged by the arrest and the crowd assaulted Officer Gaffney, threw him to the ground and disarmed him of his night stick. Desperate to escape the fray Officer Gaffney fired a shot into the air. The crowd scattered, some of which entered the bar. Officer Gaffney followed several into the bar only to be struck on the head with a revolver and knocked to the floor. Several officers including Officer Brady responded and entered the saloon. Harrison Duncan picked up Officer Gaffney's revolver and fired at the officers who returned fire. Duncan retreated behind the bar and found a revolver owned by the saloon-keeper Stark. When Officer Brady leaned over the bar to demand that suspect Duncan surrender, Duncan shot him in the chest. Duncan also fired on the other officers and was apprehended as he attempted to escape.

Suspect Duncan was tried for Officer Brady's murder in Clayton, Missouri and was sentenced to be executed. The Missouri Supreme Court reviewed the appeal and affirmed his sentence. He was hanged on July 27, 1894.