The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-23
| SANITARY OFFICER FATALLY SHOT BY WILLIAM M. DAVIS C. w. James Denies That
 He Had Insulted the
 Latter's Wife ISSUES STATEMENT
 REGARDING SHOOTING Says He Had Not Spoken to Woman When She Cried to Her Husband to Come That He Had Insulted Her

That C.. w. James, the well-known city
 sanitary inspector, must have been vic tim of mistaken identity or was shot in the performance of his duty, was the opin- ion of Chief Martin Eagan and Detectives
 Moser and Garner who Investigated the shooting yesterday. MT. James was probably fatally shot by William M Davis, a motorman, yesterday morning. At Robinsons infirmary, where the wounded sanitary officer was removed in Shaw's ambulance, it was stated last night that he was in a very critical con- dition.
 Mr. James is about 55 years of age and rather small in stature. He had been employed by the sanitary department for the past two years, and his record did not bear blemish. He is a Mason and Shriner.
 Yesterday morning about 11:30 o'clock Inspector James, on orders from the health department, went to the residence of William NJ. Davis, motorman on the Boyles line of the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company, at 1115 Third avenue. north. Motorman Davis was at home in front room talking to another motorman named C. c. Crow. Inspector James was in full uniform and entered by the rear The following state ment of the shooting was made at Rob- inson's infirmary to Detective Moser by the dying officer:
 Terrible Mistake, Says James Tt was terrible mistake" said MT. James. "I went there to close up a well that had been giving trouble. l entered by the back way as is my custom. The woman saw me coming in and closed the door, and then immediately cried out: Come, Will. quick; this man has insulted me- or something to that effect, and in my excitement I grabbed her arm and said: My God. woman, don't even know you Her husband then came in with a pistol in his hand and I started to draw mine. He shot at me several times and l dropped my pistol to the floor and the woman picked it up. I said to the man, My God, you've killed me. Don't shoot any more. Let me go out somewhere and die. He stopped shooting then. T cannot imagine what he shot me for. He evidently came in there to shoot as he came in with his pistol drawn. I had never seen the woman before that I re- member. and was there only in the per- formance of my duty. It is hard for a man to be killed this way"
 At police headquarters it was stated William M. Davis had been placed in the city jail on a charge of assault with intent to murder pending the outcome of the wounds of MT. James. At the city jail DdNlS reIuSeQ tO IIldke dDy statement or the affair to reporters.
 Will Be Thoroughly Probed 'The shooting of Inspector James," said Chief Eagan twill be thoroughly investi- gated. In the meantime Davis, who ad- mits shooting James, will be kept in jail. As far as we have been able to ascertain Inspector James went to the Davis resi- dence on official business and there owing to mistaken identity or through his activ- ity in closing up well at the rear of the Davis home was shot"
 Chief Sanitary Inspector Walter Bur son stated:
 "C. w. James was one of the most high ly esteemed men in the department. He had been in our employ for two years and his official record was without a blemish. He was not a drinking man, in fact, doubt if he ever touched a drop of liquor in his life. and was very attentive to his duties. I cannot understand the reasons for shooting MT. James, but I am positive that it was not on grounds of improper conduct, as he was the soul of integrity"