A manhunt was underway for James LeRoy Cochran. He had robbed a bank, shot it out with police, then fled through Northwest High School in St. Louis holding students at gunpoint. He abducted eight people in ten states before surrendering to the FBI on the 28th.

This post was contributed by Ross Malone. A historian and a retired school teacher, Ross has authored many books about Missouri’s history, weird facts, and folk tales. He has also written children’s historical fiction. Visit his website, and buy his books in the Missouri Life store.