Special Agent John W. Whitted

John W. Whitted

Special Agents John Whitted and Edwin Shane were shot and killed in Bland, Missouri while investigating a string of box car thefts.

Agent Shane had been dispatched to Bland from Kansas City, and Agent Whitted had been dispatched from St. Louis. They began a walking inspection of an arriving train in the early morning hours when they surprised a group of four thieves.

The thieves opened fire on the agents, and both were fatally wounded in the ensuing gun battle. Agent Shane fell to the ground while Agent Whitted's body was recovered from a boxcar after the train arrived in Eldon, Missouri.

The four men were arrested and charged with burglary. One of the four was also convicted of both murders and hanged on June 29, 1934.

Agent Whitted was survived by his wife.