James Alfred Thornton was born in St. Petersburg, Pinellas County, Florida to parents, Walter A. and Lena Carrie (Meeks) Thornton. Thornton had two brothers and one sister (Earl A., Alma G., and John D. - who was his twin brother). Thornton grew up in St. Petersburg and attended St. Petersburg High School. Initially, Thornton’s father worked as a carpenter, but by 1930 he was also a proprietor owning a gas station. Thornton worked as an attendant at the gas station after he graduated high school in 1931. In January of 1935, in Pinellas County, Thornton married Ethel Beatrice Rawls, who was one year behind him at St. Petersburg High School, and they did not have any children. Thornton worked for a couple years as an ambulance attendant for the Wilhelm Undertaking Company.
On 16 Oct 1937, Thornton worked his first day as a sworn police officer for the City of St. Petersburg and was hired to work motorcycle patrol. Thornton checked on duty at 1600 hours with his senior partner, Officer William Glenn Newberry, and they were assigned to work at the Downie Brother’s Circus at Campbell Park. Early in their shift, a verbal altercation occurred between an intoxicated citizen, J.O. Moses, and the officers, and Moses was ordered to leave the circus. A few minutes after 2000 hours, Moses returned to the circus with a gun. Moses shot Thornton from behind killing him instantly and then turned and shot Newberry in the right breast and kidney. Newberry could not use his right arm, but was able to draw his firearm with his left hand and fire three rounds at Moses, who was running away. When the crowd on scene attempted to help Newberry, he was quoted as saying, “get my buddy”. Newberry’s own brother and fellow City Patrolman, Robert “Earl” Newberry gave blood at Mound Park Hospital, as did others, but Newberry died at 0405 hours on the following day.
The shooting suspect, Moses was tracked down to an apartment house in the 1200 block of 3 Avenue South. After further resistance from Moses, Officer J. Z. Stanley shot Moses twice. Many citizens of the City were also out looking for Moses, including Thornton’s own twin brother, John D. Thornton, who arrived on scene as Moses died.
Officer Thornton was survived by his parents; his wife, Ethel; and his three siblings listed above. The large funeral service was held at the Southern Methodist Church and over 100 vehicles lined the procession to the burial at Royal Palm Cemetery. At age 24 and with 1 day of service, Officer James Alfred Thornton was the sixth St. Petersburg police officer to be killed in the line of duty.
On 16 Oct 1937, Thornton worked his first day as a sworn police officer for the City of St. Petersburg and was hired to work motorcycle patrol. Thornton checked on duty at 1600 hours with his senior partner, Officer William Glenn Newberry, and they were assigned to work at the Downie Brother’s Circus at Campbell Park. Early in their shift, a verbal altercation occurred between an intoxicated citizen, J.O. Moses, and the officers, and Moses was ordered to leave the circus. A few minutes after 2000 hours, Moses returned to the circus with a gun. Moses shot Thornton from behind killing him instantly and then turned and shot Newberry in the right breast and kidney. Newberry could not use his right arm, but was able to draw his firearm with his left hand and fire three rounds at Moses, who was running away. When the crowd on scene attempted to help Newberry, he was quoted as saying, “get my buddy”. Newberry’s own brother and fellow City Patrolman, Robert “Earl” Newberry gave blood at Mound Park Hospital, as did others, but Newberry died at 0405 hours on the following day.
The shooting suspect, Moses was tracked down to an apartment house in the 1200 block of 3 Avenue South. After further resistance from Moses, Officer J. Z. Stanley shot Moses twice. Many citizens of the City were also out looking for Moses, including Thornton’s own twin brother, John D. Thornton, who arrived on scene as Moses died.
Officer Thornton was survived by his parents; his wife, Ethel; and his three siblings listed above. The large funeral service was held at the Southern Methodist Church and over 100 vehicles lined the procession to the burial at Royal Palm Cemetery. At age 24 and with 1 day of service, Officer James Alfred Thornton was the sixth St. Petersburg police officer to be killed in the line of duty.
James Alfred Thornton was born in St. Petersburg, Pinellas County, Florida to parents, Walter A. and Lena Carrie (Meeks) Thornton. Thornton had two brothers and one sister (Earl A., Alma G., and John D. - who was his twin brother). Thornton grew up in St. Petersburg and attended St. Petersburg High School. Initially, Thornton’s father worked as a carpenter, but by 1930 he was also a proprietor owning a gas station. Thornton worked as an attendant at the gas station after he graduated high school in 1931. In January of 1935, in Pinellas County, Thornton married Ethel Beatrice Rawls, who was one year behind him at St. Petersburg High School, and they did not have any children. Thornton worked for a couple years as an ambulance attendant for the Wilhelm Undertaking Company.
On 16 Oct 1937, Thornton worked his first day as a sworn police officer for the City of St. Petersburg and was hired to work motorcycle patrol. Thornton checked on duty at 1600 hours with his senior partner, Officer William Glenn Newberry, and they were assigned to work at the Downie Brother’s Circus at Campbell Park. Early in their shift, a verbal altercation occurred between an intoxicated citizen, J.O. Moses, and the officers, and Moses was ordered to leave the circus. A few minutes after 2000 hours, Moses returned to the circus with a gun. Moses shot Thornton from behind killing him instantly and then turned and shot Newberry in the right breast and kidney. Newberry could not use his right arm, but was able to draw his firearm with his left hand and fire three rounds at Moses, who was running away. When the crowd on scene attempted to help Newberry, he was quoted as saying, “get my buddy”. Newberry’s own brother and fellow City Patrolman, Robert “Earl” Newberry gave blood at Mound Park Hospital, as did others, but Newberry died at 0405 hours on the following day.
The shooting suspect, Moses was tracked down to an apartment house in the 1200 block of 3 Avenue South. After further resistance from Moses, Officer J. Z. Stanley shot Moses twice. Many citizens of the City were also out looking for Moses, including Thornton’s own twin brother, John D. Thornton, who arrived on scene as Moses died.
Officer Thornton was survived by his parents; his wife, Ethel; and his three siblings listed above. The large funeral service was held at the Southern Methodist Church and over 100 vehicles lined the procession to the burial at Royal Palm Cemetery. At age 24 and with 1 day of service, Officer James Alfred Thornton was the sixth St. Petersburg police officer to be killed in the line of duty.
On 16 Oct 1937, Thornton worked his first day as a sworn police officer for the City of St. Petersburg and was hired to work motorcycle patrol. Thornton checked on duty at 1600 hours with his senior partner, Officer William Glenn Newberry, and they were assigned to work at the Downie Brother’s Circus at Campbell Park. Early in their shift, a verbal altercation occurred between an intoxicated citizen, J.O. Moses, and the officers, and Moses was ordered to leave the circus. A few minutes after 2000 hours, Moses returned to the circus with a gun. Moses shot Thornton from behind killing him instantly and then turned and shot Newberry in the right breast and kidney. Newberry could not use his right arm, but was able to draw his firearm with his left hand and fire three rounds at Moses, who was running away. When the crowd on scene attempted to help Newberry, he was quoted as saying, “get my buddy”. Newberry’s own brother and fellow City Patrolman, Robert “Earl” Newberry gave blood at Mound Park Hospital, as did others, but Newberry died at 0405 hours on the following day.
The shooting suspect, Moses was tracked down to an apartment house in the 1200 block of 3 Avenue South. After further resistance from Moses, Officer J. Z. Stanley shot Moses twice. Many citizens of the City were also out looking for Moses, including Thornton’s own twin brother, John D. Thornton, who arrived on scene as Moses died.
Officer Thornton was survived by his parents; his wife, Ethel; and his three siblings listed above. The large funeral service was held at the Southern Methodist Church and over 100 vehicles lined the procession to the burial at Royal Palm Cemetery. At age 24 and with 1 day of service, Officer James Alfred Thornton was the sixth St. Petersburg police officer to be killed in the line of duty.
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