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Resided:
NE, USA
Born:
Unk
Fallen:
Oct. 03, 1937
Race/Sex:
Caucasian Male / 54 yrs. of age
Agency
Dept:
Boone County Sheriff's Dept. NE
NE
USA
Dept. Type:
County/Police
Hero's Rank:
Constable
Sworn Date:
Unk
FBI Class:
Homicide - Gun
Weapon Class:
Firearm
Bio: Not Available
Fatal Incident Summary
Offender:
No Info
Location:
NE
USA
Sun. Oct. 03, 1937
Summary:
Constable William Wathen and Sheriff Lawrence Smoyer were shot and killed while investigating a farmer's report of two suspicious men hiding behind haystacks in his meadow, 23 miles northwest of Albion.
The two suspects opened fire when the officers approached them. Sheriff Smoyer died at the scene and Constable Wathen succumbed to his wounds five months later. The suspects were never identified.
In 1965 a monument was erected as a tribute to both officers on the spot where they were killed.
Constable Wathen was survived by his wife and two daughters.
