Bio & Incident Details
Age: Not available
Tour: Not available
Badge # Not available
Cause: Assault
Incident Date: 3/27/1938
Weapon: Blunt object; Iron pipe
Suspect: Apprehended
· Leave a Reflection
· Add to My Heroes
· Update this memorial
Share this memorial:
Turnkey Swartz was killed when he was struck on the head with a piece of angle iron by an inmate at the Chemung County Jail.
The inmate's brother, who was a prisoner in the adjoining cell, had pried loose several wooden floor boards and found the piece of iron. The man passed it to his brother, who then called to Turnkey Swartz and asked to use the exercise room. When Turnkey Swartz opened the cell door he was attacked and beaten to death. The two brothers then escaped but were arrested a short time later walking along nearby railroad tracks.
