Alfred Noah Eaves
Agency patch
Watchman

Alfred Noah Eaves

Felonious
End of Watch December 27, 1917
Age 33
The Vigil Panel 33 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Location: Illinois Incident Date: Wednesday, December 26, 1917 Weapon: Handgun Offender: Acquitted

Watchman Alfred Eaves was shot and killed near the Relay Depot in East St. Louis, Illinois, as he and two other officers attempted to arrest two men who were stealing items from a boxcar.

The officers were concealed in a shanty to observe the area following a recent rash of thefts. They watched two railroad switchmen enter a boxcar and remove property from inside. As the employees attempted to leave the officers confronted them. One of the men opened fire, killing Watchman Eaves.

One of the officers was able to return fire and wounded one of the men. Both subjects were both charged with Watchman Eaves' murder but were acquitted at trial.

Watchman Eaves was survived by his parents.

Survivors

Watchman Eaves was survived by his parents.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-RR-27B1EFAD
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Watchman Eaves served with the Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the St. Louis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Watchman Eaves.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Police Department
Location St. Louis, MI
Platform Identity traslpd.rr.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 27, 1917
Age 33
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Handgun

Watchman Alfred Noah Eaves is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In MI, 426 of 719 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59.2% of this state's fallen. That is 59.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis Police Department, 5 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 83.3% of this agency's fallen.

Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis Police Department
5
of 6 officers
83.3% Felonious
MI — Statewide
426
of 719 officers
59.2% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Alfred Noah Eaves's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Alfred Noah Eaves Compares

Age at Death
33
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Alfred Noah Eaves is highlighted in Dec.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Alfred Noah Eaves was killed by handgun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location