City Marshal
Joseph C. Fishback Sr.
Cannelton Police Department
Thursday, November 8, 1900
Age: 38
Served: 1 years, 10 months
Panel 7E, Line 32 (2021)
Panel L19, Line 14 (2021)
Cannelton Police Department

Incident Details

Cause of Death
Gunfire
Date/Time of Incident
Tuesday, November 6, 1900
Incident to Death Duration
2 days
Incident Location
Seventh Street, Cannelton
Incident County
Perry
Incident Township
Troy
Weapon Used
Revolver
Suspect Disposition
Sentenced to 2 to 21 years
Burial Place
Saint Michaels Cemetery, Cannelton
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   City Marshal Joseph Fishback died two days after being shot while attempting to arrest a subject who was disturbing the peace.

   On Election Day, a man had threatened to kill the brother of Marshal Fishback in the evening for refusing to vote. As the suspect went home to retrieve a revolver, Marshal Fishback was notified.

   When the suspect returned, an argument ensued and Marshal Fishback was shot twice in the abdomen by the suspect. He was taken to his residence where he died from his wounds two days later.

   The 22-year-old suspect was charged with murder. He was later convicted by a jury of manslaughter and sentenced to 2 to 21 years in prison.

   City Marshal Fishback was survived by his wife, four sons, two daughters, three brothers and two sisters.

Historical Note

City marshals existed by state law, from 1883 until its repeal in 1981, in any city at the time with a population of less than 10,000. Cannelton incorporated as a city in 1886 and had a population of 2,188 in the 1900 U.S. census.



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