Officer Arthur H. Gelhar was a member of the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, DC.
Date of Death: August 8, 1931
Rank: Officer
Age: 38
Years of Service: Nine years six months
Marital Status: Married
Children: Two
Location of Death: 3000 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Circumstance: While a passenger in Emergency Car #56, Officer Gelhar, of the Fourteenth Precinct and his partner, Officer I. T. Headley, were responding to 2812 Connecticut Avenue, NW, for a homicide call. As the police car was going south on Connecticut Avenue a motorman was in front of them with sirens activated. Citizens moved out of the way for the motorman but did not expect a car to follow. As the police car reached the National Zoo a vehicle, being operated by Mr. Lester C. Smiley, of Frederick County, Maryland, and Bethesda, Maryland, turned in front of them, causing an accident. The police car flipped into the air. Officer Gelhar suffered a skull fracture and died the following day at Emergency Hospital.
Mr. Smiley was charged with the crash, but was later exonerated by the Coroners Jury.
The call to which Officer Gelhar and his partner were responding turned out to be false.
Officer Gelhar lived with his family in Washington, DC at 4612 43rd Place NW. Born in Wisconsin, and a military veteran of World War One, having served in the Navy as a Boson Mate First Class, Officer Gelhar was survived by his wife, Margaret H. about 29 years old and his two daughters; Mary A., about 10 years old and Martha B., about 9 years old.
Date of Death: August 8, 1931
Rank: Officer
Age: 38
Years of Service: Nine years six months
Marital Status: Married
Children: Two
Location of Death: 3000 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Circumstance: While a passenger in Emergency Car #56, Officer Gelhar, of the Fourteenth Precinct and his partner, Officer I. T. Headley, were responding to 2812 Connecticut Avenue, NW, for a homicide call. As the police car was going south on Connecticut Avenue a motorman was in front of them with sirens activated. Citizens moved out of the way for the motorman but did not expect a car to follow. As the police car reached the National Zoo a vehicle, being operated by Mr. Lester C. Smiley, of Frederick County, Maryland, and Bethesda, Maryland, turned in front of them, causing an accident. The police car flipped into the air. Officer Gelhar suffered a skull fracture and died the following day at Emergency Hospital.
Mr. Smiley was charged with the crash, but was later exonerated by the Coroners Jury.
The call to which Officer Gelhar and his partner were responding turned out to be false.
Officer Gelhar lived with his family in Washington, DC at 4612 43rd Place NW. Born in Wisconsin, and a military veteran of World War One, having served in the Navy as a Boson Mate First Class, Officer Gelhar was survived by his wife, Margaret H. about 29 years old and his two daughters; Mary A., about 10 years old and Martha B., about 9 years old.
Officer Arthur H. Gelhar was a member of the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, DC.
Date of Death: August 8, 1931
Rank: Officer
Age: 38
Years of Service: Nine years six months
Marital Status: Married
Children: Two
Location of Death: 3000 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Circumstance: While a passenger in Emergency Car #56, Officer Gelhar, of the Fourteenth Precinct and his partner, Officer I. T. Headley, were responding to 2812 Connecticut Avenue, NW, for a homicide call. As the police car was going south on Connecticut Avenue a motorman was in front of them with sirens activated. Citizens moved out of the way for the motorman but did not expect a car to follow. As the police car reached the National Zoo a vehicle, being operated by Mr. Lester C. Smiley, of Frederick County, Maryland, and Bethesda, Maryland, turned in front of them, causing an accident. The police car flipped into the air. Officer Gelhar suffered a skull fracture and died the following day at Emergency Hospital.
Mr. Smiley was charged with the crash, but was later exonerated by the Coroners Jury.
The call to which Officer Gelhar and his partner were responding turned out to be false.
Officer Gelhar lived with his family in Washington, DC at 4612 43rd Place NW. Born in Wisconsin, and a military veteran of World War One, having served in the Navy as a Boson Mate First Class, Officer Gelhar was survived by his wife, Margaret H. about 29 years old and his two daughters; Mary A., about 10 years old and Martha B., about 9 years old.
Date of Death: August 8, 1931
Rank: Officer
Age: 38
Years of Service: Nine years six months
Marital Status: Married
Children: Two
Location of Death: 3000 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Circumstance: While a passenger in Emergency Car #56, Officer Gelhar, of the Fourteenth Precinct and his partner, Officer I. T. Headley, were responding to 2812 Connecticut Avenue, NW, for a homicide call. As the police car was going south on Connecticut Avenue a motorman was in front of them with sirens activated. Citizens moved out of the way for the motorman but did not expect a car to follow. As the police car reached the National Zoo a vehicle, being operated by Mr. Lester C. Smiley, of Frederick County, Maryland, and Bethesda, Maryland, turned in front of them, causing an accident. The police car flipped into the air. Officer Gelhar suffered a skull fracture and died the following day at Emergency Hospital.
Mr. Smiley was charged with the crash, but was later exonerated by the Coroners Jury.
The call to which Officer Gelhar and his partner were responding turned out to be false.
Officer Gelhar lived with his family in Washington, DC at 4612 43rd Place NW. Born in Wisconsin, and a military veteran of World War One, having served in the Navy as a Boson Mate First Class, Officer Gelhar was survived by his wife, Margaret H. about 29 years old and his two daughters; Mary A., about 10 years old and Martha B., about 9 years old.
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