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Policeman Assaulted With Cheese, Charged For Misconduct Instead
In 1907, a cop was struck by a passerby, but was the one who ended up being held responsible
Assaulting a police officer is generally serious business and usually handled swiftly and severely in the justice system. However, more than a century ago, a St. Louis cop was assaulted with a block of cheese as he sat on a street corner, but he was actually the one who ended up being punished for his role in the affair.
The September 11, 1907 issue of the St. Louis Post Dispatch had on its front page the incredible story of policeman Edward Scherzinger, who was sitting with two butchers in front of their shop talking together. Coming down the street was Fred Bauer, carrying a one-pound block of Limburger cheese wrapped in brown paper. As he passed by, he claimed Scherzinger insulted him and his famously stinky cheese. Things quickly devolved from there.
Taking issue with how the cop spoke with him, Bauer took the lump of cheese from its wrapper and hurled it at his alleged antagonist’s head. It struck him squarely in the middle of his helmet and crumbled on impact. The two butchers, apparently sensing trouble, ran away.
When Scherzinger acted as if he was going to pull his revolver from its holster, Bauer ran…
