Officer Arrested for Killing Fleeing Suspect

Aug. 21, 1899, Ads

Aug. 21, 1899: Boston Optical Co., 235 S. Spring.

Aug. 21, 1899, Shooting

Thomas Wiley is arrested for drunk driving — of a wagon.

Redlands Police Officer George H. Walker is in jail after killing George R. Hawley [Clinton P. Hawley in later stories] after a liquor raid. Hawley was fleeing in a buggy when Walker, who was chasing him on a bicycle, shot him in the head. The prosecution charged that the shooting was unnecessary and the defense said Walker should not be held responsible for a shooting committed in the line of duty.

According to The Times, the saloon establishments lobbied for Walker's prosecution, while prohibitionists supported the police officer. The jury found him not guilty after deliberating for less than half an hour.

I would say that hitting a moving target while riding a bicycle at top speed is some pretty fair shooting.

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times
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