Topeka Police Department, Kansas
End of Watch: Sunday, May 5, 1912
Age: 54
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: May 5, 1912
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Convicted of First-degree Murder
Patrolman Caswell Matthews was shot and killed by two suspects who had robbed the Bonner Springs marshal.
Patrolman Matthews received information that the two would be arriving at the Union Pacific depot on the 6:00 am train. When he spotted the two men he attempted to question them but was met with gunfire, mortally wounding Patrolman Matthews. Patrolman Matthews was able to return fire and wound one of the suspects, who was eventually arrested.
The other was apprehended by the police chief after a brief struggle.
Both men pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and were sentenced to life in prison about 40 hours after the shooting occurred. However, the sentences were commuted to 21 years in 1917. One convict was released in 1923 and the other in 1929.