Chemung County Sheriff's Department, New York
End of Watch: Sunday, March 27, 1938
Age:
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Assault
Date of Incident: March 27, 1938
Weapon Used: Blunt object; Iron pipe
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life
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.
Both brothers, ages 21 and 23, were convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life. One was paroled in 1965. The other fought for his release for several years. The last information about him was he was denied parole in 1968.