United States Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Government
End of Watch: Tuesday, August 1, 1939
Age: 37
Tour of Duty: 9 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Fall
Date of Incident: August 1, 1939
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Postal Inspector Finton McMahon fell to his death while conducting an internal criminal investigation in the Akron, Ohio, Post Office.
He was inside the lookout gallery, located 20 feet above the workroom floor, and had just begun to climb down a steel ladder when he lost his footing. He fell down the ladder well and suffered a fatal head injury.
Older Post Offices were constructed with enclosed observation catwalks that were used to conduct surveillance when theft was suspected. Known as lookout galleries, these catwalks were very dark and cramped and often spanned several floors via straight shafts equipped with ladders.
Inspector McMahon had served with the United States Postal Inspection Service for nine years. He was survived by his wife and four children.