Deputy Marshal John Carleton
United States Department of Justice - Marshals Service
U.S. Government
End of Watch: Saturday, November 5, 1887

Biographical Info
Age: 50
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Saturday, November 5, 1887
Incident Location: Texas
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life in prison

Deputy US Marshal John Carleton of the Western District of Arkansas and three possemen were on the trail for several weeks serving warrants in the southern part of the Indian Territory. The lawmen decided to serve one more warrant in Denison, Texas before returning to Fort Smith, Arkansas. They secured their nine prisoners in the local jail and started looking for John Hogan who was wanted for selling whiskey in the Indian Territory. Carleton sent two deputies to watch a local saloon while he and another deputy Lawrence went to see a woman friend of Hogan’s. Carleton saw Hogan inside the house. He drew his pistol and entered the house yelling that he was a federal officer. Carleton was shot in his side. Carleton fired four times but missed. He was transported to a local home and treated by doctors. Carleton died at 6:30 p.m. after telling doctors to tell his wife he “died happy.” Carleton’s body was shipped to Hackett, Arkansas.

On November 6 lawmen in Fort Worth located Hogan hiding in a railroad car and arrested him. Hogan was convicted and sentenced to life in prison.

Carleton had served in the First Texas Confederate Infantry and the US Secret Service prior to his service as a deputy US Marshal.