Police Officer Neal R. Courtney

Officer Courtney was stabbed to death by a 71-year-old vagrant near a vacant lot on North Seventh Street. Officer Courtney had instructed the man to extinguish a small camp fire that the man had set. When the man refused Officer Courtney began to put it out with his foot. The man picked up a lighted stick and struck Officer Courtney in the face. After a short pursuit the a struggle ensued and the suspect produced a small pen knife. During the struggle Officer Courtney received numerous stab wounds to his face and neck and his jugular vein was severed. The suspect was apprehended by a watchman who witnessed the incident.