50 Years Ago: Police Shootings

Published Saturday, March 11, 1961, pg. 4B A closeup view of the bullet holes in the windshield of the Oldsmobile made after it was found abandoned. They were caused by police bullets as the officers battled two fugitives on Highway 61 Friday night. (Don Kremer Studio)

Published Saturday, March 11, 1961, pg. 4B Two bullet holes in the windshield, noted in the above picture by small cracks, were caused by police bullets as the officers battled two fugitives on Highway 61 Friday night. (Don Kremer Studio)

One of the police cars hit by bullets during the Tucker/Thompson shootout. March 10, 1961. (Missourian photo by G.D. Fronabarger)

Sammy Aire Tucker exiting an automobile, having been caught near Grassy, Mo., the day after the shootout with Cape Girardeau police officers. March 11, 1961. (Photo not published; photo by Don Kremer Studio)

Published Saturday, March 11, 1961, pg. 1 Sammy Aire Tucker, 26, one of the two men sought in the killing of a police officer Friday night, was captured today in a wooded area near Grassy in Bollinger County. Tucker is shown as he arrived at the Cape Girardeau police station.

Sammy Aire Tucker

Douglas Wayne Thompson

Published Tuesday, June 20, 1961, pg. 1 Leaving the courtroom at Jackson after his attorney's application for a delay until next September of his trial was rejected Monday, Sammy Tucker, charged with the slaying of two Cape Girardeau police officers March 10, is shown with Sheriff John C. Crites, in rear, and Deputy Sheriff Herbert Riehn, right. He was ordered to be ready for trial next Monday.

Sammy Aire Tucker in handcuffs. Photo taken June 20, 1961, probably at the time of his aborted trial. Photo not published. (Don Kremer Studio)

Published Saturday, July 18, 1964, pg. 1 Douglas Wayne Thompson, left, during a relaxed moment at lunch Friday during the noon recess of a hearing on his motion to vacate a death sentence for the slaying of a Cape Girardeau police officer. With him is Lloyd Flaugher, a prison guard from Jefferson City, who brought Thompson here. The prisoner's left arm is handcuffed and he was required to eat only with a spoon. (Don Kremer Studio)

Sammy Aire Tucker. Photo taken September 1961. (Haupt Studio Photography)

Published Thursday, Dec. 7, 1961, pg. 1 Douglas Wayne Thompson of Bakersfield, Calif., center, was led into Circuit Court at Marble Hill this morning for his trial on charges of the fatal shooting of Herbert L. Goss, Cape Girardeau auxiliary policeman, last March 10. At left is Sheriff Frank Matthews of Bollinger County, Trooper Frank C. Schiebel is at rear and Jay Nations, Cape-Bollinger County juvenile officer, at right.

Published July 17, 1964, pg. 1 Douglas Wayne Thompson, of Bakersfield, Calif., convicted slayer of Herbert Goss, Cape Girardeau auxiliary policeman in a 1961 gunfight, is led in handcuffs from the Cape County jail this morning for a hearing at Marble Hill. Preceding him down the jail steps is Sheriff John C. Crites. Following are two prison guards, W.H. Russell and Lloyd Flaugher of Jefferson City, who brought Thompson to Jackson Friday from prison.