Murder of Officer Jacob Neibert Unfnished

Around 2:30 am on June 13, 1896, 53-year-old officer Jacob Neibert was on duty in Muscatine, Iowa. On Burlington Rd Officer Neibert would come across two tramps. Around 6 shots would ring out in the night. Three shots would happen and then in a few minutes three more. gunshots were not uncommon enough to go check it out until H.J. Smith and his wife heard moans of help. 

H.J. would go out and ask "What's the trouble"? Officer Neibert would scream out "Jim! Oh, Jim! Come Help Me!" This was when they would find the police officer suffering from gunshot wounds. H.J. would run across the street to him.

He told of how two trams he tried to arrest had done it. He would give a description, but it was hard for him to speak as he continued to get weaker and weaker. H.J. would stand Officer Neibert up and try to walk him to his house. However, before they would make it there he would collapse to the ground. They would bring pillows and blankets to make him comfortable while waiting for help. The 15-year-old Smith's son would go and fetch a doctor. 

It was too late to save him. Other neighbors would come out to see the commotion. Soon after the Dr. got there Officer Neibert would take his last breath.

The nearby box car was investigated. This was where he was shot. there were five bullet holes in the boxcar. It seemed as if they were caused by two different caliber weapons. There was a lot of blood and evidence of a struggle inside. Officer Neigbert's club and gun both showed that it was used. 

It was apparent that one of the tramps had been injured. There was a significant amount of blood that led away from the scene that wasn't from Officer Neibert. The blood was traced all the way to the sash and door factory. A black soft felt hat was found at the scene likely belonging to one of the tramps. 

SOURCES:

Iowa Cold Cases

Muscatine

Officer Down Memorial Page

Iowa Cops

The Muscatine Journal June 16, 1896

End Of Watch: Robert Wehagen

On July 8, 1938, 48-year-old Matthew Bubich escaped a state ward in a private sanitarium in Cleavland, Ohio. At 3 a.m. he removed a screen from the second floor and climbed down the fire escape in his pajamas. He would then show up at his former butcher shop. It's unknown how he had gotten there as the sanitarium was far away.

He would beat on the door with a limb that was 4ft long and 3 inches thick. His wife Anna and 15-year-old daughter Anna who lived in the rear woke up to the sound. Mary brought him a change of clothes, but he would become angry after she was not able to find his belt.

He would angrily go to the butcher shop and grab a butcher knife and locked the door. He told the girls to keep still or he would kill them. He eventually changed his mind and Anna and Mary and her son were told to leave and they did. They went to neighbors and called the police.

Five patrolmen would arrive one of which was 42-year-old Robert Wehagen. Mrs. Bubich gave Patrolman Wehagen the key and he opened the door. When he stepped in he was cautious, but Mathew was hiding behind the door. This was when he slashed down with the butcher knife. As he fell from his injuries he discharged a tear-gas shell. Seeing the man attacking Patrolman Wehagen discharged their weapons and also discharged tear gas. 

Mathew was still alive but died a few minutes after arriving at the hospital. Robert was still alive and was also taken to the hospital. While in surgery he died. It had turned out when he was stabbed his intestines were severed in five different places.

SOURCES:
Vidette-Messenger of Porter County July 8, 1938

The Times July 8, 1938

The Evening Review July 8, 1938
News-Record July 8, 1938

End of Watch: Murder of William Cole

On November 22, 1879, a warrant was out for Tom Leach an African American man who's brother Peter Leach was convicted of murder. Deputy Sherrif William Cole had gotten the warrant and spotted Tom with another one of his brothers Ben while walking down the street in Robeson County, North Carolina.

The young Sherrif Deputy Cole then came out with his Henry rifle and the warrant in hand. He went to talk to Tom with intent to arrest. When he confronted the two Tom asked William to read out his warrant. Tom then pulled a gun out of his sleeve and shot William in the forehead.

William fell onto the ground and Tom pointed the gun at Williams' chest saying "Damn you, take that." Then he shot him again in the chest before taking the victims Henry Rifle and fleeing to South Carolina.

I could not find any articles that stated whether or not they found and prosecuted Tom Leach for the crime.

SOURCES:
Officer Down Memorial Page
The Raleigh News
The Chapel Hill Ledger

End of Watch: Murder of Officer August Baker and the Lynching of William Burns

On October 3, 1907, 22-year-old William Burns and Gus Little who were both African Americans were drinking at a Hussey's Saloon near canal wharf in Cumberland, Maryland. They were making threats to other patrons and being disorderly. They were ordered to leave and the duo did not do so. Officer August Baker came to arrest the two for disorderly conduct.

William was not having any of it and was supposedly resisting arrest. Officer Baker tried to subdue him with pepper spray, but during the scuffle, William shot Officer Baker.  He was able to handcuff William, but Gus Little escaped during the fight. The shot was proven fatal and Officer August Baker died due to his injuries on October 6.

 William had admitted he was drunk but did not remember that night. He sat in jail for several days and was fearful that the townspeople were going to go after him.

Which when the townspeople heard that an officer had died anger consumed the town. Sheriff H.R. Hamilton did not place extra guards on duty at the jailhouse because he didn't believe that people would harm his prisoner. Deputy Sheriff Noah Hendley was on guard at midnight on October 6.

Several small groups of men were in the streets making their way to the jailhouse. Many of them wore their jackets inside out and handkerchiefs over their faces. By 1 a.m. a group of around 50 men approached the jail and 100 were gathered by the time they reached the jail.

There were conflicting stories of how many were there. Deputy Hendley reported over 2,000 while others said no more than 25. Spectators claimed that Deputy Hendley did, in fact, give over the keys easily even though he claimed that they tore at his clothes for them.

The men stormed the jail doors and demanded the keys from Deputy Hendley. Hendly refused which enraged the group. They tore down a telegraph pole and forced the doors open. They dragged William out of his cell with a smashed nose, a torn ear, and numerous cuts and bruises.

There were two motives of the people who attended the mob. One was that they wanted William to confess to the murder. The other was to lynch William because they were convinced he was already guilty. It was said that several prominent men in the city were a part of the mob.

A rope could not be found, so the men decided to shoot William. After he was shot and his body fell to the ground they checked to see if he was still alive and when confirmed he was, in fact, dead the mod dispersed quickly.

On October 12, 1907, Allegany County was able to raise $500 for the conviction of those who were a part of the mob. Judge Boyd directed a grand jury to investigate the lynching. No one could be identified for the prosecution of the crime. The Afro-Ledger protested the lynching in an article that summed up the situation well.

"The men who lynched Burns are greater murderers than he was, for while he shot his man while under the influence of liquor, and without premeditation, these men deliberately planned and carried their plans in execution. Without a doubt, every one of them is guilty of murder in the first degree and justice will not be done until everyone implicated in it is brought before the bar and receives the penalty of his crime."

No one was arrested or caught for the lynching though. 

SOURCES:

Maryland 

Wikipedia

End Of Watch: Sheriff Nimrod Johnson

37-year-old Sheriff Nimrod Johnson was Sheriff for Burnet County Sheriff in Texas he worked for them 4 years. On August 26, 1881, he left to arrest W.P. Brown who was a murder suspect of a murder that happened in Feb 1876. He was reported to be near Paul's Valley in Indian Territory(modern Oklahoma).

Shortly after Sheriff Miller traveled to Austin, Texas. He had been robbed but was able to recover his money. On August 30th he left Sherman, Texas and he made it to Dennison, Texas by September 1st. He was last seen alive at Caddo, Indian Territory. He was trying to purchase a horse to travel to Paul's Valley.

His nephew went to search for him, but could not find him. It wasn't until later when an Arkansas prisoner, Sam Paul, confessed he witnessed what had happened to the Sheriff. He stated that in Chickasaw county that he was ambushed and killed with arrows. After this information, they still weren't able to recover the body.

SOURCES:
Doe Network
Find a Grave

End of Watch: Death of Sheriff Oscar Dawes and His Killer James Smedley McCormick

In July of 1919 44-year-old Sherrif Fred O. Dawes was approached by a grain company owner in Nevada, Missouri. The owner was experiencing theft of sacks of feed on his property. They left feed out to bait the thieves. In the shadows waited Sherrif Dawes and the grain owner. A man appeared around 10 p.m. and was taken into custody.

It was found that the thief was James McCormick. They took the suspect to the office of the grain company. Around 11 p.m. on July 17  Sherrif Dawes was emptying out his pockets and when he turned his back to put the suspect's keys on the desk James took the chance. He pulled a .32-caliber-revolver out and shot Sherrif Dawes in the heart. He fell to the ground dead. 

A gun battle ensued with two other officers for 10 blocks. James was shot twice and died a few hours afterward. None of the other officers were injured in this gunfight.

Sherrif Dawes was working with the Vernon County Sherrif's Department for 2 and a half years. After his death, his wife Sephronia was elected the first female Sherrif in Vernon County. She only temporarily did this for a few weeks till a new sheriff could be elected.

SOURCES:
Officer Down Memorial Page
Facebook
Find A Grave 
The Butler Weekly Times and the Bates County Record