Motorcycle Patrolman Arthur Vollmar was shot to death at 7:45 p.m. at Clark and School Streets during a revolver battle with an unknown man who was been pointed out by a citizen as an armed robber.
Patrolman Vollmar was touring his beat with his partner, in the sidecar. Traveling down School Street, the policemen were hailed by a passer-by who pointed to a man a block away that was running west on the street.
Than man just held me up, the pedestrian shouted. Get him. Vollmar and Pablowski gave chase. As he saw the policemen approach, the fugitive attempted to flip a moving Clark Street streetcar going south. Failing in this, he drew a revolver and fired at the policemen as he continued his flight.
The policemen opened fire in return. The fugitive stopped in his tracks, took aim, and fired again. Officer Vollmar toppled from the motorcycle. The vehicle, careening across the street, grazed an automobile parked at the curb. A female pedestrian was knocked down on the sidewalk by the motorcycle.
His partner took up the pursuit on foot. The fugitive disappeared down a nearby alley. At the head of the alley, the policeman emptied his revolver at the assailant, who dropped, but quickly regained his feet and escaped. The officer said he believed he wounded the killer.
Officer Vollmar was taken to the John B. Murphy Hospital but was dead from a gunshot wound to the head. Vollmar was attached to the Town Hall police station; his wife and two children survive him.
On April 29, 1931 a suspect was brought back from Alton, Illinois to face trial. On April 30, 1931, the case was nolle prossed.