Chicago Police Department, Illinois
End of Watch: Friday, June 29, 1877
Age: 30
Tour of Duty: 1 month
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Stabbed
Date of Incident: June 15, 1877
Weapon Used: Edged weapon; Knife
Suspect Info: Sentenced to 25 years
Patrolman Spencer McArthur succumbed to a stab wound sustained two weeks earlier as he and his partner attempted to arrest two drunken sailors near the Lake Street Bridge.
The officers observed the men walk into a nearby lumberyard and then heard one of them yell that he had been stabbed. The officers ran into the lumber yard and each grabbed one of the suspects. The suspect Patrolman McArthur grabbed immediately stabbed him in the stomach and fled. The suspect was arrested by detectives approximately 3 hours later.
Patrolman McArthur and the prisoner were taken back to the West Madison Street Station where he remained for several days before being taken to his home.
Patrolman McArthur had only served with the Chicago Police Department for one month and had previously served as an officer in White Hall, New York. He was survived by his expectant wife and child.