Joseph C. Fishback Sr.
Cannelton Police Department
Thursday, November 8, 1900
Served: 1 years, 10 months
Badge #:
Panel 7E, Line 32 (2021)
Panel L19, Line 14 (2021)
Incident Details
Cause of Death:Gunfire
Date/Time of Incident:
Tuesday, November 6, 1900
Incident to Death Duration:
2 days
Incident Location:
Seventh Street, Cannelton
Incident County:
Perry
Incident Township:
Troy
Weapon Used:
Revolver
Suspect Disposition:
Sentenced to 2 to 21 years
Burial Place:
Saint Michaels Cemetery, Cannelton
City Marshal Joseph Fishback died two days after being shot while attempting to arrest a subject who was disturbing the peace.
On Election Day, a man had threatened to kill the brother of Marshal Fishback in the evening for refusing to vote. As the suspect went home to retrieve a revolver, Marshal Fishback was notified.
When the suspect returned, an argument ensued and Marshal Fishback was shot twice in the abdomen by the suspect. He was taken to his residence where he died from his wounds two days later.
The 22-year-old suspect was charged with murder. He was later convicted by a jury of manslaughter and sentenced to 2 to 21 years in prison.
City Marshal Fishback was survived by his wife, four sons, two daughters, three brothers and two sisters.
Historical Note City marshals existed by state law, from 1883 until its repeal in 1981, in any city at the time with a population of less than 10,000. Cannelton incorporated as a city in 1886 and had a population of 2,188 in the 1900 U.S. census. |
Cannelton Police Department
City Marshal Fishback Sr.