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James Crawford Bonner
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

James Crawford Bonner

Jefferson County Sheriff's Office — Birmingham, AL
Accident
United States flag Alabama flag
End of Watch September 26, 1913
Age 33
The Vigil Panel 28 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 23

Incident

Deputy Sheriff James Crawford Bonner was accidentally shot and killed as he and several other deputies were on their way to investigate the armed robbery of an Alabama Great Southern passenger train that had occurred the previous day in Bibbville.

Deputy Bonner and the posse were traveling in the caboose of a special car that was conveying them to Tuscaloosa. When it was time for them to disembark, one of the deputies reached for his rifle. As he picked up the weapon, it discharged. Deputy Bonner, who was preparing the unit's dogs to search for the suspects, was struck in the chest by the blast and killed instantly.

Deputy Bonner was survived by his wife and his mother.

He is buried in Oakland Cemetery in Birmingham.

Survivors

Deputy Bonner was survived by his wife and his mother.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
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August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Bonner served with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Birmingham community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Bonner.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Jefferson County Sheriff's Office
Type Sheriff's Office
Location Birmingham, Jefferson County, AL
Platform Identity jcso.jefferson.al.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 26, 1913
Age 33
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

James is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1913, 35 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 112th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

James was 33. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

September holds 9.2% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Fridays: 15.1%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Jefferson County Sheriff's Office has 24 officers remembered here, James among them.

Across the years

Deputy Sheriff James Crawford Bonner

Jefferson County Sheriff's Office · End of Watch September 26, 1913

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 34-W

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