Patrolman Martin Gorman

Martin Gorman

Patrolman Martin Gorman, Patrolman Henry Scherloh, and Special Deputy Albert Russell, of the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, sustained fatal gunshot wounds during the Election Riot of 1884.

Over 1,300 men had been deputized by a United States Marshal in an effort to prevent voting fraud during a contentious election. Many of the deputized men were criminals who began feuding with the Cincinnati police officers and Hamilton County deputies who were also assigned to protect the polling stations.

As election day progressed the tension between the two groups escalated and resulted in over 100 shots fired, 24 casualties (incluing Deputy Russell), five dying (including Patrolman Gorman), two seriously wounded (including Patrolman Scherloh), and 15 wounded.

Patrolman Gorman died on October 18th from an infection in the bullet wound. Patrolman Scherloh's wound was thought to be non-fatal, but it was discovered that the bullet moved upward into his body and into the liver; he died 12 days after the riot on October 30th.

Patrolman Gorman had served with the agency for three years. He was survived by his wife and daughter and is buried in St. Joseph's Cemetery.