Incident Details
Cause of Death:Town Marshal Andrew Dillon died from a gunshot wound he suffered six days earlier while dispersing a crowd.
He and a deputy marshal observed about 20 people, who had attended a festival and dance, creating a noisy disturbance. As the group walked westbound, they were warned repeatedly to disperse when the officers were attacked and beaten.
One subject wrestled Marshal Dillon's service weapon away from him, fired five shots into the crowd when one .38-caliber bullet struck him in the abdomen. Marshal Dillon was taken to a nearby doctor where he initially improved but died six days later.
A 33-year-old suspect was arrested over a year later. He was subsequently convicted of manslaughter by a jury for killing Marshal Dillon and sentenced to three years in prison.
At the same trial, he pleaded guilty to assault and battery with intent to kill his wife during an August 1891 incident in which he beat her over the head with a baseball bat and was sentenced to 14 years in prison where he died in 1894.
Town Marshal Dillon was survived by his wife, two children, brother and sister.
A memorial grave marker was placed in the section where it is believed Town Marshal Dillon is buried after arrangements were made in November 2020 by a retired law enforcement officer.
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. |