ST. LOUIS • Police officer Nicholas Beckman strolled to the telephone call box at 18th and Carr streets, northwest of downtown, for a routine report to the station. A resident, Dan Brothers, warned him, "Nick, a man got shocked at the box last night."

Beckman, 26, reassured him that he never used it during thunderstorms. The weather was calm that evening.

Touching the phone box, Beckman was jolted and thrown onto the street. Brothers tried to revive him. Startled bystanders ran for help.

In the Fourth District station, 11 blocks away at Seventh and Carr streets, telephone boy Oliver Miller grabbed a phone and was knocked from his chair. Panting citizens rushed in from several directions, telling Sgt. Francis McFarland that officers were down near call boxes.

McFarland clattered away i

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