Atlanta Police Department, Georgia
End of Watch: Saturday, October 3, 1903
Age: 45
Tour of Duty: 5 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Stabbed
Date of Incident: October 3, 1903
Weapon Used: Edged weapon; Dirk
Suspect Info: executed in 1904
Police Officer Hans Drasbach was stabbed to death while attempting to arrest a man for fighting in a saloon at the corner of Decatur Street and Piedmont Avenue. As he took the man into custody, the subject suddenly stabbed him in the heart with a long dirk.
The officer was able to walk the one block to the police barracks and was then taken to Grady Hospital, where he died one hour later.
The suspect was arrested in Abbyville, South Carolina, on October 18, 1903. He was convicted of Officer Drasbach's murder and sentenced to death. On January 15, 1904, he was executed by hanging at the Fulton County Jail.
Officer Drasbach had served with the Atlanta Police Department for five years. He is survived by his wife and three children.