Special Agent Nelson B. Klein
United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation
U.S. Government
End of Watch: Friday, August 16, 1935

Biographical Info
Age: 37
Tour of Duty: 9 years
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Friday, August 16, 1935
Incident Location: Indiana
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Executed in 1936

Special Agent Nelson Klein was shot and killed while he and another special agent attempted to arrest a man for car theft and interstate transportation of stolen vehicles in West College Corner, Indiana.

When the agents instructed the suspect to surrender, the man ran behind a garage and opened fire, fatally wounding Agent Klein. Agent Klein was able to return fire, wounding the suspect.

The suspect was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. On March 24, 1936, he was executed by hanging at the Marion County Jail in Indianapolis. He was the second person to be tried and the first person sentenced to death under a federal law allowing the death penalty for the murder of a federal agent.

Agent Klein had served with the Federal Bureau of Investigation for nine years.