Bio & Incident Details
Age: 48
Tour: 19 years
Badge # Not available
Cause: Gunfire
Incident Date: 5/22/1923
Weapon: Handgun
Suspect: Executed in 1924
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Patrolman Clarence Weir and Detective Sergeant John Black were shot and killed while assisting officers in an attempt to apprehend a fugitive.
When the officers arrived at the house they allowed the man's female acquaintance to get dressed. As they waited, the woman suddenly appeared and opened fire, wounding one of the officers. The male suspect then held the other officers at gunpoint and ordered them away. As they left he pushed his gun into Sergeant Black's chest and Sergeant Black attempted to push it away but was shot. Patrolman Weir then ran into another room where he was shot and killed by the female suspect.
Both suspects were arrested and sent to trial only a few days later. The male suspect was convicted of two counts of first degree murder and executed in the electric chair on January 15, 1924. Even though an officer testified that he saw the female suspect shoot Patrolman Weir she was acquitted.
Patrolman Weir was a Spanish-American War veteran and had been employed with the Jersey City Police Department for 19 years. He was survived by his wife and three children.
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Detective Sergeant John Black |
