The classified ad below ran in the Daily Dunklin Democrat in 1960. This would be like Mayberry or Petticoat Junction having a detective agency. Kennett would have had a population of about 10,000 and everybody knew everybody’s business. Sure would love to go back in time and meet what had to be the town’s only private dick.

Two Kennett pals have come up with a little more information. The “Detective Agency” was a guy named Dick Graeges. According to long-time Dunklin County Sheriff, Raymond Scott, Graeges was a criminal and con man responsible for a bomb that blew up the sheriff’s car outside the county jail. Sheriff Scott tells the story in this 1989 interview on the local access channel in Kennett. (runs about 12 minutes)

I recall my father telling me a couple of guys were killed while in Sheriff Scott’s custody. The following is from a Facebook book post by Frank Stoner:

“Many of you have heard me mention the connection between Buford (Pusser) and Dunklin County Missouri Sheriff Raymond Scott. Sheriff Scott was the one who notified Buford of the large illegal liquor shipments coming out of Pemiscot County Missouri. He was also the one Buford traveled to see and ask his advice on how to protect himself after the August 12th ambush. Sheriff Scott was the target of several assassination attempts himself. Including a gunfight in the sheriff’s office in the Dunklin County jail and a bomb blowing up his car outside of the jail. Both of which he mentions in this interview. (Part 1 of 2)