United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service, U.S. Government
End of Watch: Monday, February 12, 1877
Age:
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: February 12, 1877
Weapon Used: Shotgun
Suspect Info: Acquitted
Deputy U.S. Marshal Van Hendrix was shot and killed in Greenville County, South Carolina, while he and several deputies attempted to arrest an escaped prisoner.
The officers had gone to the man's cabin and were greeted by shotgun fire. Deputy Marshal Hendrix was struck and killed instantly. The suspect fled but later turned himself in at the sheriff's office. The man was tried and acquitted on grounds of self-defense.
The man had also murdered Deputy U.S. Marshal Alfred Duckworth on March 1st, 1876, in Transylvania County, North Carolina, and Deputy U.S. Marshal Rufus Springs in South Carolina on April 19th, 1878.