City Marshal George Greer

George Greer

Marshal George Greer was shot and killed by a man who had been drunk and ordered to go home by the marshal earlier in the evening. The man instead went to a friend's home and got his shotgun, then went to a set of stables at the corner of Prairie and Center Streets to setup an ambush.

The suspect's shotgun accidentally discharged in the stable, attracting the attention of Marshal Greer and the city's night watchman. The officers and the suspect then exchanged fire as the man ran home.

When the officers arrived at the home they forced their way in and Marshal Greer was shot once in the chest and killed. The night watchman was then able to take the suspect into custody. The man was subsequently sentenced to 20 years in prison.

The suspect was paroled a few years later. On January 25, 1916, he was shot and killed by the present marshal of Bloomfield when he got intoxicated and tried to shoot him.

Marshal Greer was survived by his wife and six children.