Harney County Sheriff's Office, Oregon
End of Watch: Wednesday, August 27, 1924
Age: 54
Tour of Duty: 10 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: August 27, 1924
Weapon Used: Rifle; .30-.30
Suspect Info: Executed in 1926
Sheriff W. Austin Goodman was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man for writing bad checks in the Folly Farm area.
He met with the man on the border of Harney County and Malheur County and informed him he was under arrest. The subject pretended to comply with the arrest and said he had to get his coat. He walked to his horse but suddenly grabbed his rifle and shot Sheriff Goodman several times.
The man fled but was later apprehended by a posse led by Sheriff Goodman's son. He was convicted of Sheriff Goodman's murder, sentenced to death, and hanged on April 16th, 1926.
Sheriff Goodman had served as sheriff for 10 years. He was survived by his wife and children.