Town Marshal
John Nelson Harris
Sellersburg Police Department
Saturday, January 16, 1915

Age: 42
Served: 3 years
Badge #:
Panel 42W, Line 26
Panel L7, Line 12

Incident Details

Cause of Death:
Gunfire
Date/Time of Incident:
Thursday, January 14, 1915
11:00 pm
Incident to Death Duration:
2 days
Incident Location:
200 block of Paradise Avenue, Sellersburg
Incident County:
Clark
Incident Township:
Silver Creek
Weapon Used:
.44-caliber handgun
Suspect Disposition:
Never apprehended
Burial Place:
Sellersburg Cemetery, Sellersburg

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   Town Marshal John Harris died two days after being shot while investigating two prowlers.

   The subjects were reported at the Adam Popp Saloon after the owner's wife had heard footsteps on the front and back porches of the building where they also lived.

   A short time after he and the owner walked in different directions looking for the men, the owner heard gunshots a distance away.

   Marshal Harris had observed two men near a blacksmith shop and followed them for a block. When he confronted them, he was shot by a pistol fired by one of the suspects and died from his wounds two days later.

   The suspects fled the scene and were never apprehended. A day later, they were suspected of killing North Vernon Police Officer Frank McKinsey.

   Town Marshal Harris was survived by his wife, seven children, parents and four sisters.

Military Service


United States Army



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