The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-01-20
POLICEMAN SIMS IS FATALLY SHOT WHEN ANSWERING CALL Little Hope Held Out for Recovery of Wounded
 Officer 5 PERSONS INVOLVED AND UNDER ARREST Arthur Gilmore, Charged With the Shooting, duplicates Lively
 Vandiver-Davis Makes
 Statement

OilitEI NrtOIAS RAiic NoS SiON AAi0 fatally wounded last night shortly after o'clock by Arthur M. Gilmore at the residence of Lively Vandiver, All North street. Sims had gone to the house in response to call for an officer. and on opening the door, was greeted with rain of bullets. Five arrests were made by the officers shortly following the shooting. Lively J. II. Hall Mrs. Minnie Van diver and Mrs. Ella Dunston were arr rested in addition to Gilmore and lodged in the city Jail.
 Sims was removed to St. vincents hospital, and authorities late last night he had no chance for recov- cry. Only one ball hit him, penetrating his right arm and lodging in his spinal column, causing paralysis.
 A rigid investigation was held last night at the police headquarters, Assist ant Solicitors James Davis and Wallace questioning the witnesses. Tes- tmony was badly crossed. and although Gilmore admitted firing the shots. both vandiver and Hall will probably be inn plicated.
 GILMORE IDENTIFIED
 Sims identified Gilmore as the man who shot him last night at the hospital. q answered the call" the wounded offi- cer said, "in response to a summons from Lively Vandiver. When l opened the door, two men were in the room to my right. The place was well. lighted, and I told them I was an officer and to throw up their hands. The man that shot me had 8 gun in his hand, and without saying word, started shooting
 ..I did nto go to the house anticipatins trouble, and therefore did not have my pistol handy. The man fired several times and missed me, I finally got my gun out and shot once. and pulled the trigger as I was hit. The same man then rushed out Into the hallway, when I had fell and standing over me, snapped the pistol several times more l pleaded with him not to shoot me again, as I knew I was mortally wounded. He then ran upstairs.
 T called for water, and after apout 10 minutes the same man returned anc unfastened my collar and gave me a glass of water I begged him to call the headouarters and ambulance and he finally did"
 Meanwhile the police headauarters was notified by other parties, and do1e1 officers were rushed to the scene, They found Sims lying in the hallway alone and Hall in the room where the shoot ing is alleged to have occurred. Gill more came down the stairs while th' officers were questioning Sims as t who did the shooting. Sims pointed ou Gilmore as his assailant and later iden tified him at the hospital again, pickint him from n group of men, Including Vandiver and Hall.
 DENIED SHOOTING o,,,~.ora ct first denied any con- naction with the shooting, but later weakened and admitted firing the shots thinking he was shooting a' Vnndiyer, with whom he had previous ly quarreled. .., .eVandiver and myself had a fight i, Gilmore said "and he told me ne was going to kill me. knew his rep utation and consequently preparee i myself. yandiver had left the room ( few minutes before the officer came | When the door opened l thought Il was vandiyer and I immediately be- gan shooting. One shot was fired al ! me however before I emptied my 1 gun. I did not snap my gun over tht l officer while he was lying on the flool and I gave him all the assistance could"
 yandiver claimed he was not in th' house when the shooting occurred 1' I told the officers and officials, now 1 ever. that he and Gilmore had auar
 re1ed hut denied making threats. Van
 diver said he was positive Gilmore
 was the man who shot the officer | hut he would not give his reasons Mrs yandiver and Mrs. Dunstoi | claimed to know nothing of the shoot I ing. although they were in the hous' 1 at thet time.
 "The shooting is one of the mos ! lcomplicated ] have recently investi l pated.' said Solicitor Davis after tn
 hearing 'T believe that the whol' thinp was a frame-up. Evidence, O tba statements of the men involved I shows that Gilmore and Vandiver wer | trying to kill each other. Vandive i called the police headduarters to hav'
 an officer arrest Gilmore. which he ad p,,tted he did He knew Gilmore hat | a gun and would resist the officer. q do not believe Gilmore intended to kill the officer. Evidence. whici should not be uncovered at the pres ent, causes me to be firm in my opin ion that the whole affair was frame LID and that all those arrested will p' involved"
 TWO PISTOLS FOUND Two pistols were found in the house One, with all five shells exploded. wa | fry. while another gun was found oi the second floor where the floorin' l had been torn up. The pistol with th | shells exploded was Identified q owned by Hall. who is supposed t have loaned his gun to Gilmore tn previous night ., j Gilmore is a young man. about q
 years of age. He is employed by 10
 cal railroad as switchman He l
 married. vandiver is well known t
 local authorities. Hall is contractor I Sims was call man on the evenin'
 sbift He is about 45 years of age ant j had been member of the local fore I for nine years. He is married and ha
 two daughters. one 15 years of az
 ana one 1s years. He resides at S4l
 Underwood avenue. East Lake. l A further investigation will be con
 tinued today. The hearing last nish
 lasted for several hours. all of tn witnesses being examined Gilmore yandiver, Hall. Mrs. yandiver and Mrs
 prnston are being held without bont