In the late hours of a summer night in Piedmont, Alabama, a sense of duty called Officer F. Augusta 'Gus' Kimberly to a local residence where a man was causing a disturbance. It was August 27, 1934, and the 58-year-old male officer responded to the call, taking the disruptive individual into custody. Officer Kimberly had successfully handcuffed the man, a measure that should have secured the situation.
Tragically, the arrest took a fatal turn. Despite being in restraints, the suspect managed to produce a handgun. He fired a single shot, striking Officer Kimberly in the chest. The sudden violence of the act was witnessed by the town's police chief, who was also present at the scene. The chief immediately subdued the assailant, ensuring he could cause no further harm that night.
The man responsible for Officer Kimberly's death was subsequently tried and convicted of manslaughter for the killing. His conviction resulted in a 25-year prison sentence. However, the story of this crime did not end with his imprisonment. In a final turn of events, the man who killed Officer Kimberly was granted a pardon on March 22, 1940.
