Patrolman Cornelius Barrett
Chicago Police Department
Illinois
End of Watch: Sunday, May 31, 1885

Biographical Info
Age: Not available
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: 557

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Sunday, May 31, 1885
Weapon Used: Handgun; .44 caliber
Suspect Info: Committed

Officer Cornelius Barrett was shot and killed as he attempted to arrest a man who had taken control of a train. The suspect, who boarded the train in Kansas City, was drunk and went among passengers asking them to drink with him. When they refused he became a raving maniac, produced a pistol, and ran everyone from the car he was in. Under the idea that he was being pursued by lynchers, he shot at everyone who showed himself, seriously wounded a passenger agent. The engineer got a message off the train telling of the problem. As soon as the train reached the Polk Street Depot several officers rushed the suspects car. The suspect jumped from the car, shot and killed Officer Barrett, and rushed up 4th Street. The suspect was shot three times in the back and was critically wounded.

When the suspect jumped from the train a plain clothes officer was critically wounded when a citizen mistook him for the suspect and hit him in the head with a brick batt. He eventually recovered from his injury.

The suspect recovered from his wounds, was declared insane, and sent to the asylum in Elgin, Michigan, on July 9, 1885.