{"officer":{"id":"18652","cause_id":"19","agency_id":"5455","rank_id":"35","first_name":"Charles","nickname":null,"middle_name":null,"last_name":"Powers","suffix":null,"badge":"Not available","gender":"M","age":"Not available","is_approved":"1","is_veteran":null,"is_odmp_discovered":null,"race":"C","tour_of_duty_days":"Not available","date_eow":"Monday, September 23, 1878","date_doi":"Monday, September 23, 1878","incident_state":"TX","weapon_id":"101","incident_description":"On Saturday, September 21, 1878, Frank Polk, who lived in the Pisgah Ridge community in Navarro County about eight miles northwest of Wortham, Freestone County, was arrested by Wortham City Marshal Charles Powers for a misdemeanor. Polk was a noted desperado who was friends with John Wesley Hardin. Polk was released on bond and stayed in town until Monday, September 23, 1878. Shortly before his trial he rode out of town. Marshal Powers and Constable Wingfield rode after him and arrested him. He was brought back to town and paid his fine. Polk left town but returned around 6:00 p.m. and rode back and forth in front of the store of Mayor W. M. Seely, who was also a Freestone County deputy sheriff. Polk dismounted with his Winchester rifle outside the store. Marshal Powers and an unnamed assistant city marshal approached Polk and told him to surrender his weapon. Seely then came out onto the street armed with a Winchester rifle. Polk started backing up with the lawmen following him. Suddenly Polk fired on Marshal Powers. Powers returned fire as he fell. The assistant city marshal shot Polk two times and Seely fired seven shots, hitting Polk three times. Both Powers and Polk died instantly.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nNothing is known about Marshal Charles Powers despite efforts by former Sheriff Sonny Sessions and the Freestone County Historical Society. No place of burial has been located. ","extra_incident_id":null,"extra_incident_name":null,"suspect_information":"killed","related":null,"nleomf_panel":"59","nleomf_line":"26","nleomf_dir":"W","odmp_notes":"Ron DeLord researcher","dt_created":"2007-01-01 14:51:19","dt_updated":"2015-03-03 18:28:57","updater":"chris","incident_loc_lat":null,"incident_loc_lon":null,"is_lodd_sent":"1","dt_approved":"2007-01-01 14:51:19","is_felonious":"1","full_name":"Charles Powers","rank":"City Marshal","cause":"Gunfire","weapon":"Rifle; Winchester","extra_incident":"","agency":"Wortham Police Department","agency_type":"Police (Municipal & County)","address1":"100 W. Main St","address2":null,"city":"Wortham","hq_state":"TX","state_abbr":"TX","agency_zip":"76693","state":"Texas","incident_state_name":"Texas","parole_id":null,"parole_date":null,"is_parole_published":null,"is_flagged":"0","flagged_comment":null,"flagged_date":null,"flagged_by":null,"created_by":null,"patch":{"id":"18504","media_type":"image","related_table":"agency","related_id":"5455","filename":"5455.jpg","is_primary":"1"},"url":"\/officer\/18652-city-marshal-charles-powers","reflection_url":"\/officer\/reflections\/18652-city-marshal-charles-powers","ogtitle":"On Saturday, September 21, 1878, Frank Polk, who lived in the Pisgah Ridge community in Navarro County about eight miles northwest of Wortham, Freestone County, was arrested by Wortham City Marshal Charles Powers for a misdemeanor. Polk was a noted desperado who was friends with John Wesley Hardin. Polk was released on bond and stayed in town until Monday, September 23, 1878. Shortly before his trial he rode out of town. Marshal Powers and Constable Wingfield rode after him and arrested him. He was brought back to town and paid his fine. Polk left town but returned around 6:00 p.m. and rode back and forth in front of the store of Mayor W. M. Seely, who was also a Freestone County deputy sheriff. Polk dismounted with his Winchester rifle outside the store. Marshal Powers and an unnamed assistant city marshal approached Polk and told him to surrender his weapon. Seely then came out onto the street armed with a Winchester rifle. Polk started backing up with the lawmen following him. Suddenly Polk fired on Marshal Powers. Powers returned fire as he fell. The assistant city marshal shot Polk two times and Seely fired seven shots, hitting Polk three times. Both Powers and Polk died instantly."},"cms_content_sign_up_benefits":"","officer_tags":"","total_reflections":9,"reflections":[{"id":"1013959","user_id":"121498","officer_id":"18652","related_table":"officer","status":"Approved","dt_submitted":"2022-09-23 09:24:41","content":"Most of society lives in a world that doesn\u2019t recognize what gives them the comfort they live in. Because of you, and people like you, society can live that way. \n\nYou put the badge on to make the community a better place. You put the badge on for justice. You put the badge on to save life. You put the badge on for the principles it represents. The badges didn\u2019t make you a hero, the badge was worn by a hero. To your family, and the generations that followed, thank you for your service. Be proud of this man.\n\nThe sorrow we share as a law enforcement family is enormous, but our love of your life is even greater.","signature":"Sergeant Christian Yanchula\nForensic Services\nIndian River County Sheriff's Office","sender_name":"Sergeant Christian Yanchula","sender_agency":"Indian River County Sheriff's Office","sender_email":"yanchula81@gmail.com","sender_ip_address":"172.15.189.129"},{"id":"932647","user_id":"63200","officer_id":"18652","related_table":"officer","status":"Approved-auto","dt_submitted":"2020-09-23 09:48:27","content":"No passage of time will ever erase your service and sacrifice.  Rest in peace always.","signature":"Detective Cpl\/3 Steven Rizzo\nDelaware State Police (Retired)","sender_name":"Steven Rizzo","sender_agency":"","sender_email":"rizz236@comcast.net","sender_ip_address":"2601:48:c600:23d0:94c9:12a4:f179"},{"id":"842285","user_id":null,"officer_id":"18652","related_table":"officer","status":"Approved","dt_submitted":"2018-09-23 01:58:18","content":"Marshal Powers,\nOn today, the 140th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice for the citizens of Wortham.\n\nR.I.P.\nUSBP","signature":null,"sender_name":"Anonymous ","sender_agency":"United States Border Patrol ","sender_email":"mikeusbp9610@yahoo.com","sender_ip_address":"2607:fb90:849e:800:dd78:f462:b4b"},{"id":"760518","user_id":null,"officer_id":"18652","related_table":"officer","status":"Approved","dt_submitted":"2016-09-23 19:27:53","content":"Rest in Peace City Marshal Charles Powers.  Thank You for your Service and Sacrifice protecting the citizens of Wortham and The Great State of Texas.\n\nI Pray for Peace for your Family, Friends and those brave souls who have chosen to follow in your footsteps.  I also Pray that the scum that murdered you burns forever in the lake of fire!\n\nAmen.","signature":null,"sender_name":"Senior Special Agent Barry Sherwood Ret.","sender_agency":"Port Terminal Railroad Police Houston, TX","sender_email":"barry_sherwood@yahoo.com","sender_ip_address":"184.21.88.27"},{"id":"454234","user_id":null,"officer_id":"18652","related_table":"officer","status":"Approved","dt_submitted":"2010-05-25 01:46:40","content":"You paved the way for me and other fellow officers for the city of wortham texas. I'm proud to serve the same city as you did 130 years ago","signature":null,"sender_name":"Anonymous","sender_agency":"","sender_email":"cwa8807@yahoo.com","sender_ip_address":"adb85b75"},{"id":"419294","user_id":null,"officer_id":"18652","related_table":"officer","status":"Approved","dt_submitted":"2009-09-26 12:36:14","content":"Your heroism and service is honored today, the 131rst anniversary of your death. Your memory lives and you continue to inspire. Thank you for your service. My cherished son Larry Lasater was a fellow police officer murdered in the line of duty on April 24, 2005 while serving as a Pittsburg, CA police officer.\r\n\r\nRest In Peace\r\n\r\nPhyllis Loya","signature":null,"sender_name":"Anonymous","sender_agency":"","sender_email":"","sender_ip_address":"4bd25d11"},{"id":"213855","user_id":null,"officer_id":"18652","related_table":"officer","status":"Approved","dt_submitted":"2007-01-03 22:20:20","content":"Marshal Powers,\r\n  It has taken over 129 years, but you are finally being honored. I would like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice for the citizens of Wortham.\r\n\r\nR.I.P.\r\nAnonymous","signature":null,"sender_name":"Anonymous","sender_agency":"","sender_email":"","sender_ip_address":"4cd36bc0"},{"id":"213835","user_id":null,"officer_id":"18652","related_table":"officer","status":"Approved","dt_submitted":"2007-01-03 18:33:53","content":"Sir:\r\n     It is an honor for me to be the first to leave you a reflection...a reflection that is 129 years overdue. But nonetheless, here it is. \r\n     Since the birth of our great nation, she has faced many tests and trials. There have been many dark moments as well. But there also always seemed to be, that unsung hero who rose to the challenge. That, Charles, is you. Your life was given in exchange for the \"taming\" of the west, and without lawmen such as yourself, the bloodshed would no doubt have continued for longer than it did. \r\n     Wheteher it was the west, or the gangs of Chicago, or the mob killings in New York, lawmen such as you, displayed uncommon valor during uncommon times. \r\n     Thank you for your service and sacrifice, and may God hold you in His hand. Rest in peace my brother. Amen","signature":null,"sender_name":"Detective Ron Tomassi","sender_agency":"Palm Beach Sheriff's Office","sender_email":"tomassir@pbso.org","sender_ip_address":"d195d802"},{"id":"213782","user_id":null,"officer_id":"18652","related_table":"officer","status":"Approved","dt_submitted":"2007-01-03 06:30:12","content":"Rest in Brother Charles, you are indeed a true hero and will never be forgotten for your service and courage. \r\n\r\nSon of G. Truman Wortham EOW 7\/15\/73","signature":null,"sender_name":"Assistant Chief Carl Wortham Retired","sender_agency":"Sand Springs Okla Police Department","sender_email":"carlwortham@wildblue.net","sender_ip_address":"cafe638"}],"agency":{"id":"5455","name":"Wortham Police Department","state":"TX","address1":"100 W. Main St","address2":null,"city":"Wortham","zipcode":"76693","hq_state":"TX","phone":"2547653042","current_agency_id":null,"agency_type_id":"17","chief_exec_name":null,"chief_exec_phone":null,"chief_exec_email":null,"benefits_poc_name":null,"benefits_poc_phone":null,"benefits_poc_email":null,"benefits_poc_cc_name":null,"benefits_poc_cc_email":null,"benefits_notes":null,"agency_uri":null,"agency_lat":"31.7877257","agency_lon":"-96.4610185","dt_created":null,"dt_updated":"2016-09-20 19:26:57","agency_type":"Police (Municipal & County)","state_name":"Texas","hq_state_name":"Texas","lodd_count":"2","k9_lodd_count":null,"current_agency_name":null,"patch":{"id":"18504","media_type":"image","related_table":"agency","related_id":"5455","filename":"5455.jpg","is_primary":"1"},"component_agencies":false},"related_officers":[],"related_k9s":[],"hide_add_hero":0}