Town Marshal Alexander Rice died from wounds he suffered over three months earlier when he was shot after responding to a disturbance at Shaffer's Saloon.

   Two men began quarreling as they were playing cards and drinking, causing the saloon owner to request assistance from Marshal Rice.

   Upon his arrival, he grabbed a third subject who had fired a shot into the ceiling when they were separated by one of the other men who hit Marshal Rice.

   The 23-year-old third man then fired his pistol, striking Marshal Rice in the abdomen who returned fire and killed the suspect with a shot to his temple.

   Town Marshal Rice was elected to one-year terms and survived by his wife, newborn, 1-, 9- and 12-year-old sons, 7- and 14-year-old daughters, mother, brother and sister.

The responsibilities of the Patriot Town Marshal's Office are now under the jurisdiction of the Switzerland County Sheriff's Department.

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This officer, discovered in 2021, has not been submitted for consideration as an eligible line of duty death to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund by the Switzerland County Sheriff's Department.

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