Constable
John Walsh
Evansville Police Department
Monday, April 14, 1862

Age: 68
Served: 1 year
Badge #:
Panel 15W, Line 22
Panel L12, Line 9

Incident Details

Cause of Death:
Gunfire
Date/Time of Incident:
Sunday, April 13, 1862

Incident to Death Duration:
1 day
Incident Location:
400 block of Water Street, Evansville
Incident County:
Vanderburgh
Incident Township:
Pigeon
Weapon Used:
Shotgun
Suspect Disposition:
Discharged in 1867
Burial Place:
Saint Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Evansville

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   Constable John Walsh died from injuries he suffered the previous day when he was shot by an escapee.

   Officers from Henderson, Kentucky, came to the city to arrest the subject and his brother who were wanted for burglary and robbery.

   The brother was arrested but the suspect fled the scene and Constable Walsh located him hiding on a flatboat along the riverfront.

   As he approached the boat the suspect opened fire, striking Constable Walsh twice with a double-barreled shotgun. After falling, the suspect's mother beat Constable Walsh with a stick. He died the following afternoon at his residence.

   The 22-year-old male suspect was later convicted of manslaughter, sentenced to five years in prison and was discharged in 1867.

   Constable Walsh was survived by his wife. He had been re-elected to a one-year term as the Pigeon Township constable only six days earlier.

Military Service


United States Army
Civil War (Union)
Read more on our research of Constable Walsh in our News Release

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