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 in office as the Pigeon Township constable only six days earlier.

Military Service United States Army Civil War (Union)

Historical Note 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.

Read more on our research of Constable Walsh in our News Release. 
Read more on our research on Remembering Our Fallen Township Constables in our News Release.