Coffeyville Police Department, Kansas
End of Watch: Wednesday, October 5, 1892
Age: 46
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: October 5, 1892
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Shot and killed
Marshal Charles Connelly was shot and killed during a robbery of two banks by the Dalton gang. The banks were located across the street from each other. He was responding to the sounds of gunfire between the gang and citizens during the robbery. As he ran into the street he was shot and killed. Four members of the Dalton Gang, including the killer of Marshal Connelly, were shot and killed. A fifth member
was shot more than 20 times but survived, sent to prison, and paroled in 1914. Four citizens were also killed during the shootout.
The gang wanted to rob two banks at the same time because it had never been done before. A hitching post that they knew they could tie their horses to in front of each bank had been removed because of repair work being done to the street. This forced the gang to tie their horses down a side alley, later named "Dead Mans Alley", 300 feet from the banks. As the gang ran to their horses, citizens in a nearby hardware store being armed with rifles, opened fire killing three. But the three managed to turn, kill, and wounded several citizens.
Almost one year later, on September 1, 1893, members of the same gang were also involved in the murders of Special Deputy Marshal Richard Speed, Deputy Marshal Thomas Hueston, and Deputy Marshal Lafayette Shadley, during a shootout in Ingalls, Oklahoma. One of the suspects was shot and killed and the other was taken into custody.
Marshal Connelly served with the Union Army 9th Indiana Light Artillery during the Civil War and is buried in Mount Hope Cemtery, Independence, Montgomery County, Kansas.