In the summer of 1909, the city of Alexandria, Louisiana, was the scene of a sudden and violent act that cut short the life of a dedicated law enforcement officer. On Monday, August 2, Police Officer G. M. Lanius, a 54-year-old male, was carrying out his duties when he responded to a report of a man with a gun at a local establishment known as the 'Valley House Bar' located at 10th and Park streets. Inside, he encountered a drunk individual and proceeded to place him under arrest.
As was the custom of the time, Officer Lanius was on his horse, and the suspect was walking in front of him. In a tragic turn of events, the suspect managed to pull out a handgun and shot Officer Lanius in the stomach. The wound proved to be fatal, and Officer Lanius died, leaving behind a wife and four children.
The man responsible for the shooting was swiftly apprehended. He faced the legal consequences of his actions and was subsequently convicted of murder. The court sentenced him to life in prison for the killing of Officer Lanius. However, the story did not end there. In 1911, the convicted killer managed to escape from the Louisiana State Penitentiary, evading justice for a number of years.
After a lengthy period on the run, the escaped prisoner was finally located and captured in Baytown, Texas, in July of 1917. He was then returned to prison to continue serving his life sentence for the murder of Officer G. M. Lanius, bringing a final, albeit delayed, resolution to the case.
