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Harrington Lee Gosling
Agency patch
Marshal

Harrington Lee Gosling

United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service — Washington, DC
Felonious
United States flag District of Columbia flag
End of Watch February 21, 1885
Age 33
Tour of Duty 2 yrs 10 mo
The Vigil Panel 23 · Column 2 · Line 17 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 312

Incident

Two outlaws, Charles Yeager and James Pitts, were arrested for robbing post offices and other crimes. They were tried, convicted and sentenced to life in prison at a trial in U.S. District Court in Austin. Family and friends conspired to free them on the train back to the jail in San Antonio. The conspirators agreed in advance that they had to kill Marshal Gosling. The prisoners were handcuffed together and were seated facing each other at the window. Pitts' 18 year old wife and Yeager's sister were allowed to sit next to them on the train. Marshal Gosling was warned of an escape attempt, but took no precautions. He was accompanied only by deputies John Manning and Fred Loring. A number of family and friends also got on the train, including Pitts' grandmother. At a point about 4 miles from New Braunfels, one or both of the women handed the prisoners each a pistol. Pitts ordered the officers to surrender, but Marshal Gosling was hindered because his pistol was under his vest. Pitts shot the marshal behind the left ear and Yeager shot him in the back. The marshal collapsed on Deputy Manning, who was then shot twice. Manning rose and shot Pitts twice. The conductor opened fire and shot and mortally wounded Pitts' grandmother when she confronted him. Deputy Loring opened fire and wounded Yeager's sister and shot Yeager twice as he and Pitts jumped from the train and fled. Pitts died from four wounds, and Yeager was arrested later by a posse. Charles Yeager and the conspirators were never convicted for the murder of Marshal Gosling. Yeager was sent to federal prison in Illinois on the original conviction. He was pardoned on December 25, 1903 after 18 years in prison. Marshal Gosling was buried in the Knights of Pythias Cemetery in San Antonio. He was survived by his wife and two small sons. He was a lawyer and newspaper owner before being appointed as a U.S. Marshal.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two small sons.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026

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Tributes

141 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Marshal Gosling gave the United States Department of Justice 2 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service
Type Federal Agency
Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity usms.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 21, 1885
Tour of Duty 2 yrs 10 mo
Age 33
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Harrington is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.

34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1885, 62 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 121st heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Harrington was 33. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Harrington had served 2.8 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

February holds 7.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service has at least 120 officers remembered here, Harrington among them.

Across the years

Marshal Harrington Lee Gosling

United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service · End of Watch February 21, 1885

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 13-E

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