Deputy U.S. Marshal Charles Edwin Short

Deputy U.S. Marshal Charles Edwin Short

United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service, U.S. Government

End of Watch Sunday, August 23, 1891

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Charles Edwin Short

Deputy Marshal Charles Edwin Short, better known as Ed, was shot and killed while returning to a prisoner to Wichita, Kansas.

Marshal Short was holding the man in a railroad baggage car in order to protect other passengers in case there was an escape attempt. The marshal gave one of the railroad workers a pistol in order to guard the suspect as the marshal went onto the platform of the train to watch for the suspect's gang.

When the railroad worker put the revolver down to get a drink of water, the suspect grabbed it, opened the railroad car door, and shot Marshal Short in the chest. Although mortally wounded, Marshal Short returned fire, fatally wounding the suspect.

The suspect was a member of the Dalton Gang, which also killed four lawmen in 1892 and 1893; the leaders of the Dalton Gang were related to the Younger gang, which killed seven lawmen between 1866 and 1892.

Marshal Short, a widower, was survived by his mother. He is buried in Osgood Cemetery, Ripley County, Indiana.

Bio

  • Age 27
  • Tour Not available
  • Badge Not available

Incident Details

  • Cause Gunfire
  • Location Kansas
  • Weapon Officer's handgun
  • Offender Shot and killed

prisoner custody, transport

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My grandfather Deputy US Marshal Charles Edwin Short. What a wonderful man and history our family is a part of in this wonderful country.
Proud to be an American.

Granddaughter

September 4, 2024

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