Police Officer Harmon Barton Patridge

Harmon Barton Patridge

Officer Patridge was shot and wounded by a man as he raided a crap game in a local railroad yard. In was thought he was recovering well but blood poisoning set in and he died three weeks later.

Officer Patridge and another officer arrested one of the gamblers. They were escorting their prisoner to jail when he suddenly fled and opened fire on the officers as he ran. The other officer fired back. An investigation revealed that the officer and the suspect had pistols that were alike. Officials were unable to tell if the suspect shot him or the other officer accidentally shot him.

Officer Patridge was survived by his wife and two children. He is buried in Cedar Hill Cemetery in Bessemer.