George Beckwith and Frank Christman, celebrated officers on the Kansas City police force, added another feather to their caps on March 8, 1925 when they captured prolific small-time criminal Ralph Sammons.

Sammons became a thorn in the police’s side in December of 1924, he was identified by Mrs. Delta Long as the bandit who held her up. Sammons caught a break when Mrs. Long failed to appear against him. Undeterred, Kansas City Red gave it another try on January 23, when he attempted to hold up Samuel Stabile, a local grocer. Once again, the small-time bandit got lucky when Stabile failed to prosecute.

But had Kansas City Red been prudent and reevaluated his life choices, he wouldn’t have gotten this coveted spot in our Mugshot March series!

On the night in question, the 26-year-old Sammons, alias Kansas City Red, and a partner relieved Harry Byers of $200 and his Buick automobile.  According to the Kansas City Times, “Sammons and his companion sped west on Thirty-first street to Troost avenue, where they turned north. At Thirtieth street the car crashed into a Cadillac car parked along the curb. Sammons and his partner were uninjured. Beckwith and Christman…called to the fleeing bandits to halt and when they refused to obey the order, the patrolmen fired. One of Beckwith’s bullets felled Sammons. The bullet went through his chest. His companion escaped.”

Sammons lived to tell the tale and to do the time. He was tried and convicted of first-degree robbery. He received a sentence of 25 years on October 17, 1925. He was discharged early for good behavior on September 15, 1939.

Kansas City Red serves as a cautionary tale. After failing twice to rob innocent people, he succeeded on the third try, making away with $200 (equivalent to $3,500 today) and a Buick. These he enjoyed for about 90 seconds–the time it took to drive eight blocks, in an unsuccessful bid to elude police.