Troy Police Department, Idaho
End of Watch: Wednesday, January 27, 1904
Age: 59
Tour of Duty: 10 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: January 27, 1904
Weapon Used: Rifle
Suspect Info: Guilty of Second Degree Murder
Marshal John Hays was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man for a domestic disturbance. The suspect shot Marshal Hays in the neck with a Springfield rifle. Although fatally wounded, the marshal was able to return fire and wounded the suspect.
The suspect surrendered to citizens the same day and came close to being lynched. In June 1904 he was found guilty of Second Degree Murder and sentenced to life at hard labor in the Idaho State Penitentiary. He was paroled in 1909 and fully pardoned in 1910.
Marshal Hays was a Union Army veteran of the Civil War and a recipient of the Medal of Honor for capturing the enemy flag on April 16, 1865, in Columbus, Georgia. He had served in law enforcement for 10 years and was survived by his wife and four children.