Clarkson Police Department, Kentucky
End of Watch: Thursday, October 20, 1910
Age: 30
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: October 20, 1910
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life
Town Marshal John Skaggs was shot and killed in Henderson, Kentucky, while returning a prisoner to the Henderson County Jail. The prisoner had been arrested the previous week for stealing a horse in Leitchfield. As the marshal and the prisoner walked through Henderson's central park en route to the jail the prisoner produced a pistol, he got from an unknown source, and shot Marshal Skaggs, The prisoner then fled the area.
The 18-year-old prisoner was re-arrested after a chase in Daviess County the following week. He tried to blame the murder on a unknown man who walked up behind them and shot the marshal. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to life on February 8, 1911.
Town Marshal Skaggs was survived by his wife and daughter. He was buried at Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville.