James Marion Bartow Goode

Atlanta Constitution - 29 Jun 1932 RACING CAR KILLS VETERAN OFFICER

James M B Goode, 62, who for more than 20 years was a member of the Atlanta police department, was struck and killed on DeKalb avenue near Delta place shortly before noon Tuesday by a high-speed type racing automobile driven by Harry Verner, 19, of 410 Kelly street.

Verner, who, police say, sped away from the scene of the accident and who later was surrendered to police by his attorney, W Paul Carpenter, is at liberty on $2,000 bond, charged with speeding, reckless driving and leaving the scene of an accident. A preliminary hearing has been set for recorder's court at 2:30 o'clock Saturday afternoon.

When he was brought to police station several hours after the fatal accident, Verner declined to make a statement, referring inquirers to his attorney. Mr Carpenter insisted that the tragedy was the result of an unavoidable accident, claiming that the elderly policeman had dropped his hat in the middle of DeKalb avenue and had stooped over to retrieve it while the racing automobile was speeding towards him.

So terrific was the impact that the victim was knocked almost entirely out of his clothing, and the front end of the automobile was badly battered. Goode was pronounced dead upon the arrival of a Grady hospital ambulance.

Funeral services for the dead officer will be held at 2 o'clock this afternoon at Epworth Methodist church at Conyers, Ga. Burial will be in the family lot in the churchyard of Conyers.

Goode was one of the most popular members of the police department. Chief T O Sturdivant Tuesday afternoon said his death was a great shock to members of the force was a distinct loss to the department. The officer was assigned to station house duties, and a son, W A Goode, who is a member of the force.

Following the accident, which occurred near Goode's home, 315 Whitefoord avenue, police conducted a search for the driver of the racing automobile which was fond in a garage at 800 DeKalb avenue. While te search was being conducted, Mr Carpenter telephoned Chief Sturdivant that he would deliver Verner to police immediately.

With the exception of nearly two years' leave of absence, Goode had been a member of the police force since November 8, 1910. He was born at Conyers July 20, 1870, and in 1890 was married. From April, 1912, to January, 1914, he obtained a leave of absence from active duty, but went back into active service in 1914 and had remained a member until the time of his death.

Verner was to have entered his racer in the contests at Lakewood July 4. The car, a slim, high-powered single-seat type, was to have been entered as "The Verner Special." It bore the number 13 on the hood and radiator.

In addition to his wife, Goode is survived by two sons, Grady Goode, a vice president of the Southern Bell Telephone and Telegraph Company, and Walter Goode, member of the police department; two daughters, Mrs L F Thompson and Mrs O Y Lester, a brother, Joe Goode, of Griffin, and one sister, Mrs John Johnson.* Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Oct 20 2020, 1:54:49 UTC