John A. Armstrong , Constable
City of Tecumseh
Constable Armstrong,
59, and Constable John Parman went to the farm of Jake Alexander about 11:15
A.M. on July 11, 1940, to serve a judgment against Alexander for an unpaid bill
of $7.10 worth of gasoline plus court cost for a total of less than $15. When
Alexander told the officers that he could not pay the judgment at that time they
advised him they would have to take his car as collateral until he could pay it.
Alexander walked back inside his house and returned with a 16-gauge shotgun.
When the officers started toward him Alexander shot Armstrong in the upper chest
and neck, severing his juggler vein. Armstrong died shortly afterwards leaving a
wife, a son and daughter.