04/27/2022
NEVER FORGET and ALWAYS HONOR the OFFICERS that made the ultimate sacrifice. On this date 152 years ago;
Captain D. G. Tourgee - Wednesday, April 27, 1870
Sergeant James T. Cox - Wednesday, April 27, 1870
Officer James Carter - Wednesday, April 27, 1870
Officer William R. Cray - Wednesday, April 27, 1870
Officer John R. Meagher - Wednesday, April 27, 1870
Officer Michael McCarthy - Wednesday, April 27, 1870
Officer John Kerr - Wednesday, April 27, 1870
Officer James A. Seay - Wednesday, April 27, 1870
Officer Julius Schultz - Wednesday, April 27, 1870
Officer James M. Walker - Wednesday, April 27, 1870
Captain D. G. Tourgee and the listed Richmond Police members died as the result of injuries they sustained in the Virginia Capitol Disaster.
On April 27th, 1870, a balcony collapsed inside of the Virginia State Capitol, killing 62 people, including 12 law enforcement officers. Ten being members of the Richmond City Police Forces.
Following the Civil War, the United States Army installed a mayor in Richmond. In January 1870 Virginia's governor appointed a new city council, which then appointed a new mayor. However, the previous mayor refused to cede the mayorship and the city operated with two mayors and governments, including two separate police departments.
The balcony collapse occurred during a Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals hearing to determine which of the city's two mayors and police departments was considered legitimate. Because of the interest in the case, hundreds of citizens crowded onto the balcony to view the case. The weight of the spectators caused the structure to give way, killing dozens of elected officials, law enforcement officers, and citizens, and injuring hundreds more.
Following what became known as the Capitol Disaster, the court reconvened and ultimately ruled that the newly appointed mayor was the legitimate mayor.