Town Marshal
Leonard 'Lenny' Geisler
Hagerstown Police Department
Monday, May 1, 1905

Age: 36
Served: 2 years, 1 week
Badge #:
Panel 49W, Line 26
Panel L13, Line 12

Incident Details

Cause of Death:
Assault
Date/Time of Incident:
Saturday, April 29, 1905
11:45 pm
Incident to Death Duration:
2 days
Incident Location:
Main and Cherry streets, Hagerstown
Incident County:
Wayne
Incident Township:
Jefferson
Weapon Used:
Blunt object
Suspect Disposition:
Discharged in 1922
Burial Place:
West Lawn Cemetery, Hagerstown

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   Town Marshal Leonard Geisler died from injuries he suffered two days earlier when he confronted a group of intoxicated subjects.

   When he ordered the men to disperse, one of them struck Marshal Geisler on the back of the head with an iron bar. He was able to fire three shots at the fleeing men before collapsing to the ground. Marshal Geisler died during surgery performed two days later.

   The 43-year-old man was charged with first-degree murder and in a death penalty case, was subsequently sentenced to life in prison. In 1921, Governor James P. Goodrich commuted his sentence to 15 to 20 years and he was discharged from prison a year later.

  Town Marshal Geisler had previously served for two years and was elected again one week before the incident. He was single and survived by his parents and sisters.

Historical Note

Town marshals were elected to unlimited, two-year terms until 1917 when state law was amended to require they be appointed to office by the trustees of the town board.



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Town Marshal Leonard 'Lenny' Geisler - Hagerstown Police Department - INLEM.org