Harrison County Sheriff's Department, Indiana
End of Watch: Thursday, January 23, 1834
Age: 31
Tour of Duty: 1 year
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: January 23, 1834
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Pardoned in 1840
Sheriff William Gresham was shot while attempting to serve an arrest warrant upon a subject.
The subject had become enraged and disorderly after learning a whipping had been administered to his younger brother by a local school teacher in Blue River Township. When a local constable was unable to serve an arrest warrant that had been issued, Sheriff Gresham was summoned. While attempting to take the young man into custody, Sheriff Gresham was shot and died immediately.
The suspect was arrested and convicted of manslaughter. In April 1835, he was sentenced to 21 years in prison and fined $1,000. The governor pardoned him in 1840 and remitted the fine.
Sheriff Gresham had served with the Harrison County Sheriff's Department for one year and was in his first term as sheriff. He was survived by his wife, three sons, two daughters and by his mother. He is buried in the Lanesville Protestant Cemetery in Lanesville, Indiana.