In the early morning hours of December 30, 1903, a Mobile Police Officer, Charles Haggerty, a 48-year-old male, was dutifully patrolling the quiet streets of the city. While on Royal Street, between Government and Conti Streets, he began observing a suspicious man from the shadows of a closed storefront around 2:30 a.m. His vigilance in investigating the individual would tragically be his final act as a dedicated officer of the law.
A citizen who had noticed Officer Haggerty's covert
surveillance later recounted hearing the chilling sound of four gunshots pierce the night's silence. Moments later, the grim discovery of Officer Haggerty's body was made. He had been shot and killed, his life taken while in the line of duty. The suspect he was investigating had vanished into the darkness, leaving behind a profound loss for the community and the police department.
In the wake of the shooting, the Mobile Police Department launched an immediate investigation. Several men were brought in for questioning as authorities worked to piece together the events that led to the officer's untimely death. Despite their efforts, no individual was ever formally charged with the murder of Officer Charles Haggerty. After serving the Mobile Police Department for 12 years, his case officially remains unsolved, a lingering mystery from a bygone era in the city's history. He was survived by his wife.
