P/O Frank L. Latham

Patrolman Frank L. Latham  
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On this day in Baltimore Police History (2 March 1924), we lost our brother, Patrolman Frank L. Latham, to gunfire, based on the following from the Baltimore Sun (3 March 1924): Headline: Patrolman Latham Dies from Wounds; Policeman Shot by Man in House Succumbs to Johns Hopkins Hospital

Schmidt was seen as Killer
Harry Worth, who took Officer to Residents in Automobile Tells of Shooting - Patrolman Frank Latham, shot while on duty Friday night, died yesterday morning, March 2, 1924. Police and detectives working on the case were roused by the news to a great figure in the search for the killer. Miss Ethel, the murdered patrolman’s wife, and Mrs. Sophia Latham, his mother, were at his bedside at Johns Hopkins Hospital when the end came. The night before, doctors had pronounced the patient out of danger following a blood transfusion from motorcycle patrolman Lewis Zulauf. An internal hemorrhage of the wound near the heart set in early yesterday. Patrolman Lather lapsed into a coma and died without regaining consciousness. Informed of her husband’s death, Miss Latham fainted. Latham’s mother, who was ill herself, was present against her physician's advice and seemed stunned.

Alleged Murderer Sought
The murderer, police say, is Leon Schmidt, five, of 11 South Collington Ave. No trace of him has been found. It was believed at first that he had escaped in his automobile. Lieut. Michael Ward and Sgt. Charles Davis located the machinery yesterday at the garage of CW Weller at 2016 E. Madison Avenue Weller, according to the police, said Schmidt had left the machine there a few days before the shooting to be repaired.

Friday night, about an hour after the shooting, Weller said Smith came to the garage and tried to get his car. At that time, he was dressed in a ragged coat, and Weller was uncertain whether he wore a hat or cap. Smith, Weller said, appeared excited.

Harry Worth, of 418 North Gay St., went to the Eastern police station yesterday and identified himself as the man who drove them and Smith’s home on the night of the shooting. He told the police he would come forward sooner but did not think his statement was of importance. He was told he would be one of the most important witnesses in the prosecution of Schmidt when he was caught and charged with the shooting.

Gives account of shooting
worth gave an account of the shooting as follows: “I was approached Friday night at Patterson Park Avenue and Baltimore Street by a policeman who asked me to drive him to five of 11 South Collington Ave. He said there was some trouble there.”

“We went to the side alley and up the back stairs. With the aid of his light, the patrolman’s searched in the front room and then the back room but found nothing.”

Tells of four shots
“In the middle room, the man stepped out as the policeman opened the door. The officer told him he was wanted. “You don’t want me, the man said, and with these words, the door was partly closed. I heard four successive shots and then another, and then someone said, “You would’ve done the same for May.” I did not have a pistol or a light, and I’d groped my way down the stairs and out front.”

An inquest will be held at 9 o’clock tonight at the Northeast police station by Dr. J. AIDS. S. Potter, coroner.

Detectives asserted farms 
A party of four headquarters detectives armed with riot guns and wearing bulletproof vests left Baltimore in an automobile yesterday morning for Wilmington, Delaware, on the information that Schmidt was hiding on a farm near there. Those who made up the party were detectives Robert Bradley, Frederick Carol, and Charles

Birmingham, and Frank Coleman

Failing to find any trace of Schmidt in or near Wilmington, the party went to Hillsboro, Caroline County, where they searched for Alexander Kurtinski. They returned last night empty-handed after a trip of more than 375 miles

May he never be forgotten

 "His service "Honored" the City of Baltimore and the Police Department."