John Stacks

John Stacks, an officer with the Pittsburgh Police Department, died April 24, 1872, from injuries suffered on April 23 on Smithfield St., downtown. Henry Bender, who owned a saloon in which Stacks had just dined, was charged with the killing.

Bender was acquitted at trial on June 14, 1872. After this verdict, charges against his alleged accomplice, William Kocher, were dropped. Both defendants were German immigrants.

Author: Bill Lofquist

I am a sociologist and death penalty scholar at the State University of New York at Geneseo. I am also a Pittsburgh native. My present research focuses on the history of the death penalty in Allegheny County (Pittsburgh), Pa. View all posts by Bill Lofquist