Bio & Incident Details
Age: 34
Tour: Not available
Badge # Not available
Cause: Gunfire
Incident Date: 7/6/1875
Weapon: Handgun; .32 caliber
Suspect: Ten executed
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Patrolman Benjamin Yost was shot and killed in retaliation for a previous arrest he had made.
Patrolman Yost was on foot patrol when two men approached and shot him. He died from the wounds.
It was later discovered that Patrolman Yost was killed because he had previously arrested a member of a notorious gang know as the Order of the Molly Maguires. This group of local miners had assigned two men to murder Patrolman Yost following the arrest of one of the gang's members.
Ten men were later arrested and charged in connection with two murders, including Patrolman Yost's . All ten men were later executed.
Patrolman Yost had served in the Civil war. He is buried in Odd Fellows Cemetery, Tamaqua, Pennsylvania.
