Raleigh, Sept. 1—Fighting against overwhelming odds, Tom Crabtree, popular city detective shot down early Thursday morning while on duty, died at 2:30 o’clock Friday afternoon after gradually growing worse during the morning hours. The officer held his own during Thursday night, but his pulse registered below normal and he began to sink when internal complications set in after the reaction from the shock.
Although his attending physician and hospital nurses did everything in their power to assist the detective in his slim chance for life, it was realized that the officer’s strong constitution and cheerful composure would not be strong enough to combat the odds against him. His condition at the end of the first 12 hours after the shooting, however, produced a hope that some unforeseen circumstance might bring a better chance.
The officer was getting along so well Thursday that City Prosecutor Beckwith and Detective Jesse Wyatt were allowed to take his deposition in regard to the shooting. With composure and a clear mind, he told the circumstances of the shooting and implicated no one but Charles “Boots” Kluttz. Mr. Crabtree then realized that he didn’t have much of a chance to live.
Detective Crabtree was 36 years old and had been living in Raleigh all his life. For the past nine years he had been identified with the police department after beginning his career as a driver of the patrol wagon. Showing an aptitude for special investigation and detective work, he was quickly promoted to plain clothesman and in this line of work he was recognized as one of the best officers in this section of the country. On special occasions he was called to Richmond and Columbia, S.C., where his ability was recognized when the police there needed outside assistance.
He married Miss Mary Lyndon, of this city, who, together with four small children, survive. He also leaves three brothers and five sisters. His father and mother died some time ago. He was a counsi of Chief of Police A.E. Glenn.
No funeral arrangements had been made Friday afternoon.
While Detective Tom Crabtree, police officer shot down in the early hour of Thursday morning by Charles “Boots” Kluttz was fighting for his life with a slight chance of recovery, for “the sake of my wife and children,” as he told his pal, Jesse Wyatt, a benefit fund was started for the stricken officer’s family by the city commissioners with a donation of $500 from James H. Pou. In inaugurating an appeal to the citizens of Raleigh for a fund of $5,0000, the commissioners immediately followed Mr. Pou’s donatin with their own contributions.
The city commissioners have no authority under the law to make any municipal appropriation for this purpose, and the appeal to the public for the benefit fund is the only available means of accomplishing this result. It is recognized that the detective had no means of providing for his family after death. Since the shooting his mind had been centered on is family, and it was desired to relieve him of this anxiety that the commissioners deemed it proper and also helpful to the officer in staging the fight for his life.
When the matter was proposed at the regular meeting of the commissioners Thursday, James H. Pou asked to be allowed to open the subscription with a donation of $500. It was stated that all of the commissioners and practically every official and employee of the city will make contributions to this fund.
“If Mr. Crabtree’s condition permits,” said Mayor Eldridge, “he is to be informed of this action, so that he may be relieved of any apprehension about the welfare of his wife and children and may know that the citizens of Raleigh are not unappreciative of the high character of service he has rendered. The necessity of such a fund as proposed is all the more pressing because, it is learned, that practically the only resources that Officer Crabtree has are his small amount of personal belongings and a fraternal insurance policy of $500. It is proposed that the fund of $5,000, if raised, or whatever amount obtained, shall be invested as a maintenance fund for the benefit of the officer if he should live and be permanently paralyzed, and for the benefit of his wife and children if his death should result from his injuries.
Subscriptions were made Friday morning by the following citizens of Raleigh: James H. Pou, $500; Mayor T.E. Eldridge, $50; Commissioner Moneyham, $50; Commissioner Bray, $25; J.M. Broughton, $50.
From the local front page, Durham Morning Herald, Sept. 2, 1922
No comments:
Post a Comment