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Private Francis A. Zehringer | Pennsylvania State Police, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania State Police, Pennsylvania

Private

Francis A. Zehringer

Pennsylvania State Police, Pennsylvania

End of Watch: Sunday, September 2, 1906

Biographical Info

Age: 34
Tour of Duty: 8 months
Badge Number: 40

Incident Details

Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: September 2, 1906
Weapon Used: Shotgun
Suspect Info: Killed

Private Francis Zehringer and Private John Henry were shot and killed while attempting to apprehend fugitives barricaded in a house in Jefferson County.

Private Henry was called to the home after reinforcements were requested. Upon arrival he immediately advanced on the house but was shot when he got within 20-feet of the home. More reinforcements were called in approximately two hours later and another attempt was made to gain entry to the home. In this attempt Private Zehringer was shot and killed and two other officers were seriously wounded.

During the night, under the cover of darkness and rain, officers approached the house and planted dynamite around it. At dawn they detonated the dynamite, destroying the house and killing all of the fugitives inside.

Private Zehringer was a U.S Army veteran of the Spanish-American war and had served with he Pennsylvania State Police for eight months. He was survived by his father and is buried at Riverside Cemetery in Norristown, Pennsylvania.