Meriwether County Sheriff's Office, Georgia
End of Watch: Wednesday, May 9, 1917
Age: 55
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire (Inadvertent)
Date of Incident: May 8, 1917
Weapon Used: Officer's handgun
Suspect Info: Not available
Deputy Sheriff J.M. Crim was accidentally shot and killed inside the federal building in Columbus, Georgia, while appearing as a witness in federal court.
He had placed his coat, which contained his revolver, on a wash stand when he went into the restroom. Another person entered the restroom and moved the coat, causing the revolver to fall to the ground and discharge. The round ricocheted off the ground and struck Deputy Crim in the chest, causing a fatal wound. He was transported to the city hospital where he died the following day.
Deputy Crim was a U.S. military veteran and had previously served as the police chief of the Manchester Police Department. He was survived by his wife and son.