On a fateful day in Birmingham, Alabama, the life of a dedicated lawman was tragically cut short. James Tillman Moser, a White male detective with the Birmingham Police Department, was killed in the line of duty on Tuesday, January 31, 1939. His death came during a valiant attempt to apprehend a dangerous fugitive who had escaped from death row.
The confrontation turned deadly when the escaped convict managed to overpower Detective Moser and seize his service weapon.
In the ensuing struggle, the suspect opened fire, and Detective Moser was fatally wounded. The suspect, having already been condemned to death for a previous crime, added the murder of a police officer to his list of offenses.
Justice for Detective Moser, though not immediate, was decisive. The man who took his life was recaptured and held to account for his actions. Following a trial, he was convicted of the murder of Detective James Tillman Moser. On June 14, 1940, the convicted killer was executed for his crimes.
