The Nation - News from June 25, 1989

The mayor of St. Louis and his family went into hiding and a city airport commissioner was arrested after the commissioner allegedly made threats when yet another city official--his ex-wife--was relieved of some duties. When Mayor Vincent C. Schoemehl Jr. later appeared at a Democratic meeting, he was accompanied by four police officers. Luther Boykins was arrested for allegedly threatening Schoemehl, police said. He was released a few hours later. Boykins allegedly made the threat after the mayor supported legislation that limited the duties of Boykins’ ex-wife, Billie Boykins, the city’s license collector. Billie Boykins also faces felony drug charges from an arrest near Bloomington, Ill.