Sheriff Noah H. McGinnis

Noah H. McGinnis

Sheriff Noah McGinnis was shot and mortally wounded by two notorious train robbers that he and his posse were attempting to arrest near Plainville.

As Sheriff McGinnis and his deputies surrounded their log cabin, gunfire erupted. Sheriff McGinnis was struck in the abdomen with a load of buck-shot, and one of his deputies was seriously wounded. After a lengthy gun battle, one suspect surrendered but the second escaped. Sheriff McGinnis died from his wounds two days later.

The captured suspect was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison May 27, 1893. His sentence was reduced to 20 years September 5, 1899. The second suspect remained at large for more than 9 years. He was apprehended in Dallas, Texas, in July of 1902.

Sheriff McGinnis was a Civil War veteran, having served with the Georgia Calvary.