May 4, 1941
By Mike Simmons
In 1938, James Hunt and his gang went on an armed robbery spree across Escambia County. Then Constable Mallory Williams took over. In a matter of days, James and his crew were safely in jail and the crime spree was halted.
Mallory Williams became somewhat of a celebrity. His reputation grew to where people knew if he was looking for them, he would find them. Many times, they just gave up. They knew that running wasn’t worth it – they would just go to jail tired! He became known as the guy who knew what was going on and could find who was responsible. He always had his ear to the ground.
William McCray was a businessman…of sorts. His business was acquiring cartons of cigarettes and reselling them in bulk, making a profit along the way. Sounds like a good business plan, with one exception. He acquired all his cigarettes by stealing them. He would break into businesses, steal the cigarettes, and sell them on the black market.
But he wasn’t necessarily a smart businessman. Ruthless, but not smart. On March 30, 1941, he robbed the American Brewing Company on the Baylen Street Wharf. Then, on April 14, he robbed Archer’s store on Gulf Beach Highway. On May 1, he shot bartender Sam Magnasco during a botched robbery in Magnasco’s beer joint on Garden and DeVilliers.
The local law officers were investigating many burglaries and thefts of cigarettes, but no one seemed to be able to catch the guy committing the crimes. Then Mallory Williams entered the investigation. You see, Mallory maintained an army of informants. His home phone was given out for them to call when they had information. On May 3, 1941, his wife received one of the informant calls. She took down the information that William McCray was going to bring a bunch of stolen cigarettes to Chris’ Place, a little local bar located at 801 N. Old Corry Field Road (between Jackson Street and Mobile Highway) that had a less-then-stellar reputation. As soon as Mallory got the information, he went to work.
In the pre-dawn hours of May 4, 1941, police cars were strategically stationed around the bar, with Sheriff Howard Mayes and two deputies who were intent on stopping this crime spree. One of the deputies – Richard Salmon – was one of Mallory’s best friends. They were pulling one of the all-nighters that police officers sometimes do, but rarely enjoy.
Around 3:30 am, their work paid off. The hiding officers watched as a cab slowly circled the area, then eased up to the bar and turned off its lights. The passenger door quietly opened, and a man got out. It appeared to be William McCray! The officers moved forward and yelled at the man to stop and put up his hands. Their demands were met with gunfire. Ducking for cover, Constable Williams returned fire, his steady aim finding its target. McCray yelled in pain as the constable’s bullet struck his ankle. But he wasn’t down yet. As the officers moved in closer, the suspect moved out for a better position. A shot rang out. Mallory Williams felt a bullet enter deep in the left side of his chest and exit the right. It was the end for Mallory Williams[1].
McCray was arrested immediately, denying that he shot the constable. When the dust finally settled, it was learned that an inadvertent shot by a deputy hit Williams. Deputy Red Salmons thought the man he saw moving stealthily in the darkness was McCray. It was not. It was his best friend.
The funeral took place at the home of the constable West Cervantes Street in Brownsville. The May 6 edition of the Pensacola News Journal reported that old timers at the funeral said there had never been a larger or more impressive demonstration than the one for the popular constable. As the hearse entered into Myrtle Grove Cemetery, three miles from the Williams’ home, cars were still leaving the house. Many arrived ten minutes after the graveside services had been completed.
McCray now had to answer for his crimes. After several trials, he was sentenced to twenty-five years in prison.
Constable Williams left behind his wife, Doris, six daughters, one son, a mother, three sisters, a brother, and a grandson.
