Deputy U.S. Marshal Howard Wilson

Howard Wilson

Deputy Marshal Howard Wilson was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a suspect in Menifee County, Kentucky. He and another deputy marshal had gone in search of a man who was wanted in Virginia for murder, robbery, and violations of liquor laws. They located him in Mariba walking with another man and two girls. When the marshals rode up behind them and announced themselves, both men turned and opened fire. Deputy Marshal Wilson returned fire killing the other man. The suspect shot and killed him. The other deputy shot and critically wounded the suspect.

On January 4, 1901, the 22-year-old suspect escaped from the Frenchburg Jail after been transferred there from a hospital two days earlier. The following September he shot and killed a man at a liquor still in Menifee County. On November 8, 1904, he was being chased by a posse in Breathitt County when he turned and opened fire killing two posse members. The others returned fire killing him.

Deputy Marshal Wilson was survived by his wife, daughter, and two sons.