Officer Thomas E. Wright

Thomas E. Wright

Officer Thomas Wright succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained the previous day when he and his partner stopped a vehicle for disregarding a stop sign. The driver, who was a local judge, shot Officer Wright in the side with a .41 caliber Derringer. Despite being wounded, Officer Wright was able to drive himself to the police station to seek help. The other officer remained at the scene with the suspect.

Officer Wright received several blood transfusions but succumbed to his wounds the following day.

The 63-year-old judge said he thought Officer Wright was a robber. He was convicted and sentenced to 10 years in prison. The Alabama Supreme Court ordered a new trial which ended with a hung jury. Before a decision could be made for second trial, he was struck and killed by a motorist while crossing the street on November 8, 1931.