Iowa Concerns of Police Survivors

Special Officer Wishart was shot and killed by a man who was attempting to illegally dump rubbish in a graveyard on West 9th Street. Officer Wishart had been appointed to guard the graveyard to prevent illegal dumping by several individuals.

One of the men came to the scene with his workers and informed Officer Wishart he was going to dump the rubbish in the crematory. When Officer Wishart informed him he would not be permitted to do so, the man produced two .38 caliber revolvers and opened fire. Despite being fatally wounded, Officer Wishart was able to return fire but did not strike the suspect.

Officer Wishart was taken to the city hall where he died from his wounds the following day.

The suspect was a notorious former lawman known for his ruthlessness. He was arrested after shooting Officer Wishart and taken to the local jail. An angry mob was prevented from lynching him by the local militia. The suspect was eventually convicted of murder and sentenced to 4 years in prison, but was pardoned by the governor after serving only 2 years.

Officer Wishart was survived by his wife and three children.

Railroad Policeman Henry Talcott and Railroad Policeman Jake Frith were shot and killed at about 2:15 am while trying to remove three tramps from a coach car in the railroad yards at 19th Street in Dubuque, Iowa. A violent struggle took place inside of the car and both officers were mortally wounded. Policeman Frith was shot in the neck and back and Policeman Talcott was shot above the left eye.

Two suspects were captured a short time later. Both were convicted of two counts of first degree murder and sentenced to life in Anamosa Penitentiary. Both were pardoned by Governor Nathan E. Kendall on January 10th, 1925.

The third suspect fled to San Francisco where he boarded a ship destined for Australia. He was never captured.

Policeman Talcott was survived by his wife and four children.

Railroad Policeman Jake Frith and Railroad Policeman Henry Talcott were shot and killed at about 2:15 am while trying to remove three tramps from a coach car in the railroad yards at 19th Street in Dubuque, Iowa. A violent struggle took place inside of the car and both officers were mortally wounded. Policeman Frith was shot in the neck and back and Policeman Talcott was shot above the left eye.

Two suspects were apprehended a short time later. Both were convicted of two counts of first degree and sentenced to life in Anamosa Penitentiary. Both were pardoned by Governor Nathan E. Kendall on January 10th, 1925.

The third suspect fled to San Francisco where he boarded a ship destined for Australia. He was never captured.

Policeman Frith was survived by his wife and four children.

Night Policeman Tim O'Brien was shot and killed by two tramps he attempted to arrest when they jumped from a freight train as it stopped in Mason City, Iowa.

One of the subjects managed to grab Policeman O'Brien's revolver and shot him. Both men were apprehended.

Policeman O'Brien was a Union Army veteran of the Civil War.

Marsha Peter Larson succumbed to a gunshot wound. He was shot the previous night while trying to quell a disturbance.

The incident occurred when he and several citizens confronted a group of people who had come to town from Boone County to break up a dance.

The Marshal died approximately 24 hours later.

Marshal Larson had served with the Dayton Police Department for 7 years.

Marshal Abner Whitney was shot and killed after he and several other officers surrounded a house where two robbery suspects were hiding. When the officers entered the house the suspects opened fire, killing Marshal Whitney. One of the suspects was shot and killed by other officers and the second suspect was lynched by a mob.

Marshal Whitney had been with the agency for eight years. He was survived by his mother.

Officer Edward Graves was shot and killed as he responded to a domestic disturbance. An intoxicated man had gotten in a violent brawl with his wife after he encouraged their 13-year old daughter to drink beer. Hearing the quarrel, Officer Graves walked up to the house and called to the husband, whom he knew by name, through the door. When Officer Graves asked what the matter was, the intoxicated man yelled that it was none of Officer Graves's business and that he would teach him to come onto his property for no reason. He then opened the door and deliberately shot Officer Graves through the heart, killing him instantly.

The Chief of Police and other officers responded shortly after and attempted to arrest the man, who opened fire on them. In spite of being nearly struck by a barrage of gunfire, the Chief and another officer managed to subdue the suspect and take him into custody.

Officer Graves was survived by his wife. He is buried in Ottumwa Cemetery.

Officer Neibert was shot and killed after arresting two hobos for vagrancy. The two men overpowered and him and shot him. He was able to give other officers a description of the two men before succumbing to his wounds. The two men were arrested but were later released when it was determined that they had nothing to do with the murder. The killers were never identified.

Officer Niebert was a Civil War veteran, having served with the 35th Iowa Infantry.

Patrolman Albert Meisner was struck and killed by a train while attempting to remove three tramps from an outbound train at approximately 7:30 pm.

He either fell or was pushed from the train and fell onto the tracks in the path of another train.

Patrolman Meisner was survived by his wife and 11 children.

Town Marshal John Finley succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained 15 days earlier by a man he arrested for disturbing the peace outside of the home of man's ex-wife. The suspect suddenly produced a gun and shot Marshal Finley as he was escorting him to jail.

The suspect was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison March 24, 1897. He was pardoned by Governor George W. Clarke October 20th, 1914.

Town Marshal William Gallion was shot and killed by a bank robber held up in a farm house that he and his posse had surrounded. The suspect jumped from a window where Marshal Gallion was stationed. Before he could react, the suspect shot him in the chest with a revolver, and then mounted his bicycle and rode off with the posse in pursuit. After he rode about a mile his tire went flat. As the posse closed in he shot and killed himself.

The suspect and another man shot and killed a cashier and an innocent bystander when they robbed a bank in Sherburne County, Minnesota, the day before.

Patrolman Doxsie was shot and killed while patrolling the downtown part of the city on horseback. His body was found in an alley. His murder was never solved.

Deputy Sheriff Tom Walsh was shot and killed by a man when he made a visit to the man's farm to serve him with legal papers.

The 50-year-old subject surrendered to local law enforcement officials later the same day. He was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison on April 11th, 1900. He escaped in 1915 and captured in 1929. He was returned to Ft. Madison Penitentiary and paroled in 1934.