Warehouse Agent Robert G. Anderson

Robert G. Anderson

Warehouse Agent Robert Anderson was shot and killed while assigned to protect the Hammond Distillery, at 150th Street and Calumet Avenue, in Hammond, Indiana.

As another agent reported for duty in the early morning hours, he encountered six armed suspects who took him hostage and forced him to walk with them to the entrance gate and call Agent Anderson. When Agent Anderson arrived one of the men shot and killed him as he drew his revolver, after realizing the other agent had been taken captive. The suspects, who apparently were about to steal liquor from the warehouse, fled in an automobile leaving the other agent behind who alerted other officers. Officers stationed a Forsyth Crossing opened fire on the car when the bandits refused to stop, forcing the driver to crash into a telephone pole. One suspect was captured as the others escaped. A week later the suspect who shot Agent Anderson, the noted gangster, Joe Salston, known as the "Beer Baron" of prohibition days was apprehended in Chicago, returned to Hammond and jailed for murder.

Agent Anderson's suspected killer was acquitted at trial when his attorney grilled his fellow agent getting him to say he could have been wrong about who fired the fatal shot. A few months later he was acquitted of another murder because it was thought the jury feared gangster retribution. Five years later Al Capone ran him out of business. Although he made a fortune he died a pauper in 1947. The other jailed suspect was released. The fate of the other four is unknown.

Agent Anderson was survived by his wife and six children.