Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-03-24
NINE BIRMINGHAM POLICEMEN
KILLED IN THE PAST 10 YEARS

BIRMINGHAM, Ala, March 22.-The
killing of Policeman William p. Walton by
Jim Webb, colored, which just occurred
in this city, calls to mind the fact that
many similar tragedies have occurred dur
ing the past few years and that an off,
Ger who discharges his duty in Birming-
ham carries his life in his hands. Nine
brave men have fallen in almost as many
years and there Is something suggestive
in the fact that only two men have been
hanged as a result of this awful slaughter
of those whose duty it is to uphold the
law.
The killing of King vann brave depu-
ty who served under Former Sheriff Joe
Smith, is still fresh in the minds of many
Something like ten years ago he under
took to arrest a negro in the northwestern
limits of the city. The negro presented
a double barrel shotgun and defied arrest,
but the officer advanced upon him despite
the formidable weapon and the negro fired
The gun. was loaded with slugs and they
bored a dozen jagged holes through poor
Vann, killing him instantly. A posse pur-
sued the murderer and he was finally sur
rounded in a high tree. Quick justice
overlook him, for the limb upon which he
was perched gave way and he fell to the
ground, his neck being broken by the fall.
The next officer to fall in the discharge
os his duty was Deputy Sheriff Ben Tierce,
who was killed by rioters during one of
the numerous skirmishes which marked
the turbulent strike of 1884. Who killed
him was never known.
About two weeks after the killing Of
Deputy Tierce, two other deputies, Char
ley Cole and Jim Smith, were shot to
death while seeking to arrest George Rud-
son. Who killed them was never known
to a legal certainty, and though several
arrests were made no one was ever pun
ished for the double killing.
Arthur Wood, another brave deputy
sheriff, was shot to death in September,
1895, in a battle with negroes, and his STAY
er also went unchanged.
The. next fatal tragedy of this kind was
the killing of Chief Reputy Sheriff Robert
Warnock, who was shot to death one Sun
day afternoon about four years ago. He
went to arrest a negro, VIII Golson, on.
the charge of grand larceny. When he
stepped up to the door the negro threw it
open and began shooting with 45-Colt's
revolver. The officer was taken complete.
ly by surprises but he returned the fire
with a little short-barrel, 32-revolver af-
ter he had been mortally wounded. How
ever, the negro was not hurt and escaped.
He was captured later and was convicted
and hanged, being the first slayer of an
officer to go the rope route.
The next officers to meet death were Po-
who were killed in the memorable battle
with the famous Miller-Duncan gang of
safe blowers in this city about three years
ago. Frank Miller of Cincinnati, was
hanged for his connection with this affair,
and Frank Duncan, of Chattanooga and
Cincinnati, was under sentence of death
for his part In it when he sawed his way
from the Jefferson county jail a short
time ago and made good his escape.
Now comes Policeman Walton. He
went into a negro house to arrest negro
criminal and was shot down, as many Of
his predecessors had been, and another
good officer Joined the ranks of those
who had fallen in the line of duty.
In addition to the numerous cases in
which deputies and policemen have been
killed outright, there have been cases too
numerous to mention in which officers
have been cut, stabbed and shot while
running down criminals and have had mar
row escapes from death.
The record. as above outlined, stands,
nine officers killed, two criminals hanged.