Patrolman John M. Claridge

John M. Claridge

Patrolman Claridge succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained the previous day while responding to a large disturbance at a saloon near the intersection of Washington Avenue and Main Street.

He and his partner heard a disturbance from inside a saloon that was well known to officers for having trouble while walking their beat. Patrolman Claridge and his partner found a large number of intoxicated men fighting inside when they arrived. Several of the men attacked Patrolman Claridge and his partner, beating them severely. One of the men fired a shot, striking Patrolman Claridge in the head. All the men fled the scene after the shot was fired. Patrolman Claridge was brought to a doctor, but died several hours later.

Patrolman Claridge was a U.S Army veteran of the Civil war and had served with the Memphis Police Department for just 10 months.