I am researching for a book on the 1938 crime spree of St. Louis desperadoes John Couch and James Otis Meredith.

On July 31, 1938, Couch and Meredith along with James Clyde Reed held up the Red Onion Cafe and the nearby filling station in Harrisonville.

A newspaper report from the time is as follows:

"2:00 a.m.
The filling station next to the Red Onion Café at Harrisonville, Missouri was robbed of $50. Robert Arnold was working in the filling station when it was robbed, and he was beaten.

While one of the men guarded Arnold, the other two went into the Red Onion Café.

In the Red Onion were Curtis and Ruth Barry, proprietors, Counter Man Melvin Scott, and patrons Paul Simmons, Helen Spaulding, Olene Waldburger, Jim Block, Georgia Bradshaw, Dorothy Scott, Ray Anderson, A.T. Richardson, Ralph Helt, Wayne Hopkins, Charles Crager, James Perryman, and Claude Harms. They were told to lie on the floor while the robbery was in progress. Melvin Scott was struck across the head with the barrel of a sawed off shotgun and kicked. The occupants of two cars which stop at the station were forced to join the café customers on the floor. They made off with only about $10 from the register, as the Barry’s had managed to discretely remove most of the cash and hide it."

Does anyone have any more information on this incident?

I would really like to find a photo of the Red Onion from this period that I could use in the book.

I was only 7 years old when this event happened so, of course, I don'r actually remember it but as I grew up I personally knew and remember most of the local customers named in the article. My older sister dated one of the fellows quoted as being in the restaraunt at that time but who actually worked in the Gas station next door. My niece's husband was the son of the proprietors at that time, Curtis and Ruth Berry.

I have lived in Harrisonville all my life and do volunteer research for the area. I will see if I can locate a picture of the Red Onion. It was a popular place for many years and had many managers.

Since I have lived here all my life I am interested in your book and wonder what your connection is with the restaraunt. Please contact me at jovanm@aol.com.