Patrolman James McCracken was shot and killed during an armed robbery as he escorted two local theater managers to make their night deposits.

   As he escorted the manager of the Wysor Grand Opera House and the assistant manager of the Rivoli Theatre to the Delaware County National Bank in downtown Muncie, he was shot twice in the chest and died en route to Ball Memorial Hospital.

   Four suspects fled the scene with $747 and later shot Patrolman Charles A. Holt, 36, of the Springfield Police Department in Ohio, on June 29, 1932, who died the following day.

   A 27- and 38-year-old man were apprehended on August 10 in Indianapolis. Both later pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, sentenced to life in prison and paroled in 1942.

   A third man, the 31-year-old shooter who killed Patrolman McCracken, was arrested on August 30 in New Orleans. He later pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in a change of venue to Randolph County and sentenced to life in prison.

   On July 23, the fourth suspect and the 31-year-old shooter who killed Patrolman Holt were captured in Effingham, Illinois. The 25-year-old man later pleaded guilty to shooting with intent to kill, sentenced to life in prison and paroled in 1960.

   The shooter was later found guilty of first-degree murder in Ohio and sentenced to life in prison. In 1959, Ohio Governor Michael V. DiSallefio granted him a pardon.

   Patrolman McCracken was survived by his wife, mother, stepfather, two sisters, brother, two stepsisters and stepbrother.

   He had been a semi-professional baseball player for eight seasons from 1922-1929 as a standout pitcher for various teams including the Muncie Citizens.