Town Marshal Columbus Croy was shot and killed after responding to a burglary in progress at the Faulkner Saloon, 500 feet from his residence.

   He was at home asleep when he was alerted to the burglary and as he approached the establishment one of the four suspects ordered him to stop. As Marshal Croy continued to walk towards him the man opened fire and mortally wounded him in the heart.

   The suspects fled and hopped on a nearby train headed towards Chicago or Detroit. All four men were later apprehended and indicted on first-degree murder.

   The 31-year-old shooter was found guilty by a jury of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. On appeal, he was found guilty of manslaughter in a bench trial, sentenced to 2 to 21 years in prison and paroled in 1912.

   His 51-year-old accomplice, a former deputy sheriff, was found guilty by a jury of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. On appeal, he was found guilty by a jury of manslaughter and sentenced to 2 to 21 years in prison, where he died in 1911.

   A 44-year-old offender, who was found guilty by a jury of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to 2 to 21 years in prison in a change of venue to Huntington County, had the charge dismissed upon appeal and a 40-year-old offender, who testified as a witness for the state, had his charge dismissed. 

   Town Marshal Croy, who had been elected to two-year terms and later appointed, had served as Woodburn's first town marshal. He was survived by his wife, 9- and 15-year-old daughters, parents, brother and three sisters.

Historical Notes The Woodburn Town Marshal's Office existed after the town's incorporation in 1895 until it was abolished upon incorporation as a city in 1956 and the Woodburn Police Department was established.

Read more on our research at Honoring Our Fallen Town Marshals.