John Shinberger

John F. Shinberger was a man of long and varied service, a veteran of both the Civil War and the Richmond Police Department, where he had risen to the rank of Captain after 24 years on the force. At 63 years old, the white-haired officer was a respected figure in the city, known for his dedication and experience. His life of service, however, came to a violent end in the summer of 1904 during a manhunt for a wanted fugitive.

The chain of events leading to the captain’s death began with the murder of a Black man named Richard Fox. The suspect was another Black man, 28-year-old James Goode, and the Richmond police were determined to bring him into custody. The search led them to a house at 1308 North Second Street in the Jackson Ward neighborhood. On the evening of Sunday, June 26, 1904, a team of officers, including Captain Shinberger, converged on the residence where Goode was believed to be hiding.

As the other officers prepared to enter from the front, Captain Shinberger took up a strategic position at the rear of the house to cut off any potential escape. The plan was to corner the suspect and apprehend him without incident. But as the officers closed in, Goode made a desperate bid for freedom. He burst out the back of the house, and in the ensuing confrontation, he fired his weapon. Captain Shinberger was struck by the gunfire, sustaining a mortal wound. Goode managed to escape in the chaos, leaving the veteran officer critically injured.

Captain Shinberger was rushed to receive medical care, but the damage was too severe. For four days, he fought for his life, but on June 30, 1904, he succumbed to his injuries, leaving a department and a city in mourning. His death marked a somber moment for law enforcement in Richmond, a stark reminder of the dangers they faced.

The Richmond Police Department, now grieving the loss of one of its own, intensified its efforts to capture James Goode. The manhunt concluded with his arrest, and the city’s justice system moved forward with the case against him. Goode was charged with the murder of Captain John F. Shinberger. His legal process was complex; an initial trial resulted in a hung jury, forcing the prosecution to try the case a second time.

The second trial began in the Hustings Court on October 18, 1904. This time, the jury reached a verdict, finding James Goode guilty of the murder of the police captain. Following the conviction, he was sentenced to death. On January 6, 1905, James Goode was executed by hanging for his crime. The case, which had begun with the killing of Richard Fox and ended with the death of a decorated police captain, was officially closed. Captain Shinberger, who had served his country in the Baltimore Light Artillery during the Civil War, was remembered for his ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty, a respected officer who gave his life protecting the citizens of Richmond.