On January 31st, 1915, Officer William Hauserman was shot and killed in an ambush while using the telephone at a candy shop.
On January 31st, Officer Hauserman was using a telephone inside the DeMayo Candy Shop at 1034 E. 12th when he was approached from behind and shot in the back by John J. Brennan. Officer Hauserman turned towards his assailant and Brennan fired another shot at Officer Hauserman's head, lodging in the base of his brain, killing him in front of six witnesses. Officer Hauserman died in the ambulance enroute to General Hospital where he was pronounced dead without regaining consciousness. Brennan was caught, confessed to shooting Officer Hauserman and was prosecuted for first-degree murder. Brennan was convicted on October 15, 1915 of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison.
Officer Hauserman was a member of the department's "strong arm squad" at the Walnut Street Station responsible for keeping down vice in the Walnut Street Station district. His squad had frequently raided the saloon at 1204 Troost and Officer Hauserman had been the target of many threats by the saloon's owner, John Brennan. Brennan also threatened to use his influence with a friend of his, Tom Pendergast, to get even with the officers for raiding his establishment and harassing him. Officer Hauserman had additionally arrested Brennan the evening previous to his death for causing a brawl. Two witnesses reported that Brennan had threated to kill Officer Hauserman when he got out of jail.
Services for Officer Hauserman were conducted with a fifty officer honor guard at Freeman & Marshall Funeral Home on February 2, 1915 at 2:30 pm. Interred: Highland Cemetery, Junction City, Kansas where Hauserman lived before relocating to Kansas City.
Article by Brent Marchant
Missouri Law Enforcement Memorial