North Dakota Attorney General's Office, North Dakota
End of Watch: Saturday, April 27, 1918
Age: 44
Tour of Duty: 1 year
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: April 26, 1918
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Convicted of murder
Special Agent Kersey Gowin was shot and killed while he and Officer Patrick Devaney, of the Minot Police Department, were attempting to arrest several thieves. The officers were laying in wait in a field for the automobile tire thieves when they were shot.
Officer Devaney was killed instantly; Agent Gowin was taken to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to his wounds early the next morning.
Five men were arrested, however, one confessed to the shooting and was convicted of murder. He served two years in prison before escaping and was considered at large.
Agent Gowin had served with the agency for one year. He was a veteran of the United States Army in the Spanish American War and the Philippine Insurrection. He was survived by his wife and two sons, father, and three brothers. He is buried in Bethany Lutheran Cemetery, Minot, Ward County, North Dakota.