John Nathaniel Merritt
Incident
Location: Georgia Weapon: Handgun Offender: Acquitted
Deputy U.S. Marshal John Merritt was shot and killed in Lula, Georgia, while speaking to the owner of a local distillery.
Deputy Marshal Merritt had accompanied a raiding party of other deputy marshals and Internal Revenue deputy collectors in search of illegal distilleries in Banks County. They were unable to find any illegal activity and returned to Lula to catch the passenger train south. They were in a local restaurant across the tracks from the railroad depot when the distillery owner entered and asked to speak to Deputy Marshal Merritt outside.
The man shot Deputy Marshal Merritt immediately upon exiting the restaurant and then fled. He remained at large for several years until being arrested in Texas in 1889. He was acquitted of Deputy Marshal Merritt's murder in 1890.
Deputy Marshal Merritt was a United States Civil War veteran and had served with the United States Marshals Service for only three months.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and children, as well as his parents and four siblings.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtnwspf55ep77m16wda18- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew John. Claim this record.
Also honored at salute.nw. One record, 2 gates. John is one person.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Merritt served with the United States Department of Justice.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
John Nathaniel Merritt served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Felonious
United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service has lost 313 officers; 251 of them killed feloniously.
John is one of 754 officers killed feloniously in DC, 53.1% of the 1,419 remembered there.
John is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.
John is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1886, 7 officers at United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service were killed feloniously, the 11th heaviest of 78 years on record. The heaviest was 1872, with 13.
In 1886, 9 officers in DC were killed feloniously, the 20th heaviest of 159 years on record. The heaviest was 1922, with 20.
In 1886, 51 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 139th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1886, 58 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 135th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
John was 43. Of the 137 killed feloniously at United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service whose age is recorded, half were between 32 and 47; the middle age was 38. John had served 0.2 years; the middle length of service was 4 years.
John was 43. Of the 580 killed feloniously in DC whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 44; the middle age was 36. John had served 0.2 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
John was 43. 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. John had served 0.2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
John was 43. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. John had served 0.2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
March holds 8.8% of these deaths at United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service; July holds the most, 13.1%. Saturdays: 12%.
March holds 7% of these deaths in DC; July holds the most, 11.7%. Saturdays: 13%.
March holds 7.5% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.
March holds 7.8% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Saturdays: 16.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 80.2% of all 313 deaths at United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 13.5% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 53.1% of all 1,419 deaths in DC, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 19.6% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 20.9% of these deaths.
His people
United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service has at least 120 officers remembered here, John among them.
-
Robert Forsyth
Jan 11, 1794
-
John Gatewood Feb 2, 1839
-
James Batchelder May 26, 1854
-
William H. Richardson Nov 17, 1855
-
Eli R. Doyle Dec 27, 1855
-
Leonard Armes Apr 20, 1860
-
George W. Leihy Nov 18, 1866
-
Theodore W. Moses Dec 6, 1869
-
Thomas P. Foley Apr 27, 1870
-
William Rufus Story
May 2, 1870
-
William Hicks Reeves Mar 1, 1871
-
William Anderson Looper Mar 3, 1871
-
John Zeke Feb 16, 1872
-
William T. Bentz Feb 22, 1872
-
Clement McCausland
Feb 23, 1872
-
Blacksut Beck Apr 15, 1872
-
Sam Beck Apr 15, 1872
-
William Hicks Apr 15, 1872
-
George Selvidge
Apr 15, 1872
-
Jim Ward Apr 15, 1872
-
Riley Woods Apr 15, 1872
-
William Beck Apr 16, 1872
-
Jacob G. Owens
Apr 16, 1872
-
Caleb N. Keith May 2, 1872
-
Maddison F. Mitchell Jun 18, 1872
-
Henry Franklin Griffin
Oct 6, 1872
-
Marcus F. Parker Mar 22, 1873
-
John C. Stephenson Jul 11, 1873
-
R. T. Dunn Aug 8, 1873
-
Andy Frigate Sep 5, 1873
-
John P. Fries Oct 25, 1873
-
Perry DuVal Nov 2, 1873
-
Noah H. Burns Feb 15, 1874
-
James P. Everette Jul 10, 1874
-
William Spivey Aug 6, 1874
-
Alfred F. Duckworth
Mar 1, 1876
-
Arthur J. Harrington Jun 6, 1876
-
Felix H. Torbett Oct 1, 1876
-
Albert Gibson Jan 26, 1877
-
Augustine McIntyre
Feb 10, 1877
-
Van Buren Hendrix Feb 12, 1877
-
John Wilson Feb 14, 1877
-
Maston Reynolds Greene
May 12, 1877
-
George Ellis Dec 10, 1877
-
Rufus Springs
Apr 19, 1878
-
Thomas Echols Rodgers Apr 29, 1878
-
Augustus Harris Jun 17, 1878
-
Harry T. McCarty Jul 13, 1878
-
John Hicks Adams
Sep 2, 1878
-
Cornelius Finley
Sep 2, 1878
-
Jack Kimbrew Sep 11, 1878
-
William H. Anderson Nov 8, 1878
-
Lorenzo C. Crowell Jan 10, 1879
-
James Kirby Sep 1, 1879
-
C. R. V. Schefsky Sep 7, 1879
-
Willard Rufus Ayers
Aug 11, 1880
-
John Byron Hardie Dec 8, 1880
-
Henry Seagraves Apr 8, 1881
-
Robert Olinger
Apr 28, 1881
-
Thomas Young Aug 25, 1882
-
Dave H. Layman Apr 10, 1883
-
John Mack Weir Jul 2, 1883
-
John Collins Aug 10, 1883
-
Addison Beck
Sep 27, 1883
-
Lewis Merritt Sep 27, 1883
-
William Leech Apr 10, 1884
-
Walter Raleigh Killion May 24, 1884
-
L. J. McDonald Jul 12, 1884
-
Bud Pusley Nov 9, 1884
-
Harrington Lee Gosling
Feb 21, 1885
-
Jim Guy May 1, 1885
-
William Kirksey May 1, 1885
-
Andy Roff May 1, 1885
-
James Roff May 1, 1885
-
William Lee Miller Jul 6, 1885
-
Miller Hurst Oct 11, 1885
-
W. D. Kellett Dec 7, 1885
-
John Nathaniel Merritt
Mar 6, 1886
-
Tom C. Hall Mar 18, 1886
-
James E. Richardson Mar 29, 1886
-
R. W. Townsend Apr 4, 1886
-
Henry Miller Apr 9, 1886
-
William H. Irwin Apr 13, 1886
-
Sam Sixkiller
Dec 24, 1886
-
William Kelly Jan 17, 1887
-
Mark Kuykendall Jan 17, 1887
-
Henry Smith Jan 17, 1887
-
William Fields Apr 10, 1887
-
Dan Maples
May 5, 1887
-
John Carleton Nov 5, 1887
-
Frank Dalton
Nov 27, 1887
-
E. A. Stokley Dec 3, 1887
-
John D. Trammel Jun 26, 1888
-
John Phillips Jun 30, 1888
-
William Whitson Jun 30, 1888
-
Mose McIntosh Nov 9, 1888
-
Thomas Goodson Dec 1, 1888
-
Z. W. Moody Mar 15, 1889
-
Russell Wireman Mar 26, 1889
-
Jim Williams Jun 5, 1889
-
Joe Lundy Jun 10, 1889
-
Charles Tanner Sparks
Oct 2, 1889
-
Worth Bailey Saunders Feb 13, 1890
-
Robert Cox Apr 14, 1890
-
Charles H. V. Fusselman
Apr 17, 1890
-
Jim Billy Jul 13, 1890
-
David Sigemore Jul 31, 1890
-
Samuel L. L'Estrange Nov 21, 1890
-
William Pitts Dec 1, 1890
-
Marion Prickett Dec 15, 1890
-
Steve Pen-Su-Wau Feb 6, 1891
-
James C. Arnold
Feb 26, 1891
-
J. Locke Ezzell May 8, 1891
-
Bernard Connelley Aug 19, 1891
-
Charles Edwin Short
Aug 23, 1891
-
Joseph S. Wilson Sep 23, 1891
-
R. Lee Taylor Oct 1, 1891
-
George E. Thornton
Oct 28, 1891
-
George Wise
Oct 30, 1891
-
Calixto Garcia Oct 30, 1891
Where
Military Service
John Nathaniel Merritt served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Visit John Nathaniel Merritt’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Where the Name Is Cut
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
312 officers from United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.















