Case Number: 10963
Sims, Gloria � Age 6 � Colored � Fatally shot at 3:40 PM, 3/8/28, in front of her home, 4625 St. Lawrence Ave., by a stray bullet fired by one of several negro boys during a street fight. Jack Belvin (21), Clarence Harland, (18), and Willie Jones (16) were held by the Coroner for manslaughter, on 3/21/28. 5 Dist. 6/19/28 Belvin and Jones acquitted � McGoorty. 6/29/28 � Harland to Pontiac Ref. � McGoorty.
Circumstances
| Date of Offense | March 8, 1928 |
|---|---|
| Date of Death | March 8, 1928 |
| Time Between Offense and Death | Within 1 day |
| Address | 4625 St. Lawrence ave. |
| Type of Location | Street, or other non-commercial public place/alley |
| Type of Public Place | Street, sidewalk or alley |
| Location Description | in front of her home |
| Type of Death | Accident |
| Description | Fight |
| Total Number of Victims | 1 |
| Location | in front of her home |
| Number of Defendants | 3 |
| Type of Accident | Accidental shooting |
Victim
| Name | Sims, Gloria |
|---|---|
| Age | 6 years |
| Gender | Female |
| Race | Black |
| Employed | Yes |
| VictimEmploymentType | Outside labor force (incl. criminals) |
| Ethnicity | African American |
| Occupation/ Skill | Other, outside labor force, inmate |
Defendant
| Name | Harland, Clarence |
|---|---|
| Age | 18 years |
| Gender | Male |
| Ethnicity | African American |
| Race | Black |
Police
| Precinct | 24 |
|---|---|
| Allegations of Police Corruption | No |
| Arrest Made at Crime Scene | Yes |
| Defendant Identified at Scene | No |
| Time Between Crime and Arrest | Less than 1 day |
| Total Number of Defendants Arrested | 3 |
Legal
| Date of Coroner's Decision | March 21, 1928 |
|---|---|
| Outcome of Coroner's Judgment | Defendant held to Grand Jury |
| Charges Against Defendant | No |
| Trial Judge | McGoorty |
| Type of Legal Decision Recorded | Coroner, trial |
| Jury Verdict | Yes |
| Allegations of Police Corruption | No |
| Date of Sentence | June 29, 1928 |
| Outcome of Grand Jury Decision | Indictment, other homicide, homicide unspecified |
| Outcome of Trial | Guilty of manslaughter |
