Merchant Policeman
William Edwin Keasey
Ligonier Police Department
Friday, June 29, 1934

Age: 58
Served: 5 years
Badge #:
Not Included
Not Included

Incident Details

Cause of Death:
Gunfire
Date/Time of Incident:
Friday, June 29, 1934
03:30 am
Incident to Death Duration:
Same day
Incident Location:
101 West 3rd Street, Ligonier
Incident County:
Noble
Incident Township:
Perry
Weapon Used:
.25-caliber handgun
Suspect Disposition:
• Sentenced to life (2)
• Sentenced to 2 to 14 years (2)
Burial Place:
Oak Park Cemetery, Ligonier

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   Merchant Policeman William Keasey was shot and killed by a prisoner who was being walked to the city jail.

   Two of the four men who had been suspected of scouting out the town to hijack slot machines had been arrested. While a night policeman had taken one prisoner into city hall, shots were heard outside.

   Merchant Policeman Keasey, who remained in front of city hall with his prisoner, had been shot twice in his abdomen. His prisoner fled the scene after entering a getaway car and being driven away.

   He and the other two men were later apprehended and confessed to committing robberies in Angola, Fort Wayne, Ligonier and Delphi, Ohio. The 22-year-old shooter pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison.

   The 32-year-old man originally arrested pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit a felony and being a habitual criminal, and sentenced to life in prison.

   A 28-year-old getaway driver and a 20-year-old man both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit a felony and were sentenced to 2 to 14 years in prison.

   Merchant Policeman Keasey was survived by his wife, mother, brother and sister.

Historic Place