The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-08-30
CHIEF OF POLICE
SHOT TODEATH|N
CITY HALL OFFICE
Unwritten Law Claimed by
Brighton Furnace Man,
Who Killed Officer.
No Witnesses

Bunch Walker. 80 chief of police of
Brighton was shot to death by o. Olive
"a furnace man employed by the Wood
ward Iron company, yesterday morn
ing at 1880 o'clock, the shooting oc-
curing in the chiefs office in the city
hall at Brighton.
Domestic troubles are said to have
caused the killing, Olive having stated
following the shooting, that he would
claim the "unwritten law" as his de-
Tense
Walker was seated at his desk, 1t
is said when the shooting took place.
although there were no eve witnesses
to the affair Citizens of Brighton
hearing the shots ran 10 the office and
were met a the front door by Olive.
who handed his smoking revolver to
II. ]. Wilkes. one of the aldermen of
Brighton, stating that he had killed
the chief of police.
Yesterday afternoon he made. the
following statement in regard to the
affair: TT is just another case of I'M
written law. Domestic troubles caused
the killing. l work on the night shift
at the furnace of the Woodward Iron
company. Last night my wife told
me of visits paid her by Walker and
confessed everything that had passed
between them. This morning / went
to the city hall and asked Walker what
he meant by his attentions to my wife
whereupon he cursed and reached for
his revolver. AS he did so l fired"
Mrs, olive was formerly Miss Mable
Whited of Bessemer. olive has been
employed at the furnace at Woodward
Ala, for the past II years
Chief Walker was formerly connected
with the police force at Brighton before
enlisting in the army and going to
France. He was discharged in January
snd was made chief of police of Brigh-
ton, February l.
Brighton Is much wrought up over
the affair and saddeAed at the loss of
one of their citizens, Walker having
heen popular where he was known. He
was unmarried
The coroner of Bessemer will make
an investigation of the Xxi Ing today.
Many heard the shots as they were
fired in rapid succession, all five cham
hers of the IS special Smith e. Wesson
revolver being emptied into the body of
Walker
After the excitement of the shooting
had subsidized Walkers revolver was
found between the city hall and another
building on the ground. The office in
which the shooting took place was on the
second floor of the building.
As the crowd began to gather from the
excitement. Olive appealed to the mayor
for protection, and he was taken into the
real estate office of A. NJ. Vines and re-
manned there until Deputies w. B. Vines
and j. L. Skates arrived there from Bes-
semer and took him into custody and
brought him to Birmingham.
II. j. Wilkes was the first man to
| reach Walker. after he was shot and
| stated that Walker gasped a few times
after he reached his side, but never
spoke. His head had fallen between the
| chair in which he was sitting and safe.
the chair still supporting his body, there
being no evidence of a struggle. Mr.
| Wilkes stated that few minutes before
the shooting that he had stopped to talk
| to Walker and Mayor Sharpe in front
of the city hall while they were working
| on an automobile. He recalled that
| Walker was without a coat and that he
noticed his empty scabbard, having left
his gun in his office. AS Mr.. Wilkes
! walked away Walker went up the steps
to his office, and was followed almost
he had gone less than half block when
he heard the shots fired and turned and
! came back to the scene. Olive seemed
\ very calm about the matter. it was said
| Walkers remains were taken to Huey
& McConnelrs undertaking establishment,
| and funeral arrangements will be an
nounced later.
He is survived by his mother Mrs
| Susan Walker: one brother. Clarence
Walker, four sisters Mrs. Lizzie
| Saunders. of Washington, d. CT Mrs
c. w. Turbevile of Houston, Tex; Mrs
T. G. Southam of Memphis Tenn; Mrs
G. r.. Rayvourn, of Orange, Miss. He
also has large family connection in the
tdistrict. He was a member of the Bes-
semer Moose lodge and of the Protective
Home circle.