In the annals of Atlanta's history, the life of Police Officer James A. Manier, a White/Caucasian male, was cut tragically short on a winter's day. On December 6, 1907, while on duty, Officer Manier encountered an intoxicated man on Haynes Street, near Peters Street. The man was reportedly cursing as he walked toward the officer. In an attempt to uphold the peace, Officer Manier took hold of the man by his belt to place him under arrest. The situation, however, escalated with unforeseen and fatal swiftness.
The intoxicated individual, whose name has been lost to the passage of time, produced a. 44 caliber handgun. Without warning, he fired a single shot that struck Officer Manier in the face, killing him instantly. The sudden violence of the act was further compounded by the fact that Officer Manier's own wife was present and witnessed the horrific event. The couple also had a young son who was left fatherless by the senseless act.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, the suspect attempted to flee the scene. A store owner who had witnessed the cold-blooded murder gave chase, and with a sense of civic duty, managed to apprehend the fleeing man a short distance away. The suspect was then taken into custody by the authorities.
The wheels of justice turned swiftly for the time. The man who had so brazenly taken the life of a dedicated officer was tried and convicted for the murder of Officer James A. Manier. The court handed down the ultimate penalty, and on March 18, 1908, the convicted killer was executed by hanging at the Fulton County Jail. Officer Manier had served the Atlanta Police Department for ten years, and his death marked a somber day for the city and a profound loss for his grieving family.
