Deputy Constable William Carey was shot and killed by a traveling evangelist known as Thomas "Cyclone" Johnson from Kentucky.

   The 32-year-old reverend had a history of assaulting people who disagreed with his preaching and had done so against a man the night before.

   An unarmed Deputy Constable Carey and his cousin, the elected Clay Township constable who had swore him in that day, arrested the subject for assault and battery at 1st Street and 3rd Avenue NW.

   They escorted him to the Jackson & Jeffries livery barn for arraignment. As a crowd of people gathered, the suspect produced a revolver and shot Deputy Constable Carey.

   He was struck twice in the neck, hitting his jugular vein and died within a few minutes. An unknown citizen returned fire and killed the suspect.

   Deputy Constable Carey was survived by his wife, 6-year-old son, 5-month-old twin sons, parents and two brothers.

Historical Notes • Deputy Constable Carey is one of four known officers killed in the line of duty in Indiana who served only one day. Constables were created during the Indiana Territory and continued to exist after statehood in 1816. Depending on the time period, they were either appointed or elected to their positions at the township level with one- or four-year terms in office. Constables had police powers to make arrests with countywide jurisdiction. Since 2004, constables are only authorized by state law in Marion County townships having a small claims court where they are elected to four-year terms in office.