Incident
Location: South Carolina Incident Date: Monday, January 24, 1910 Weapon: Officer's handgun Offender: Not available
Special Officer Samuel Boyer was shot and killed in the Royster Yards south of Charleston, South Carolina, when he interrupted several men breaking into a boxcar.
He was patrolling the yards around midnight when he observed the men taking items out of the car that was on a siding. The men attacked him and disarmed him as he approached them. One of the men shot him with his own service revolver before all three fled.
Officer Boyer was taken to a local hospital where he died four days later.
Officer Boyer had served with the Southern Railway Police Department for 10 years and had previously served with the Columbia Police Department.
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Special Officer Boyer gave the Southern Railway Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Washington community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Officer Boyer.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Southern Railway Police Department has lost 18 officers; 17 of them killed feloniously.
Samuel is one of 754 officers killed feloniously in DC, 53.1% of the 1,419 remembered there.
Samuel is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Samuel 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 1910, 1 officer at Southern Railway Police Department was killed feloniously, the 4th heaviest of 14 years on record. The heaviest was 1922, with 2.
In 1910, 3 officers in DC were killed feloniously, the 85th heaviest of 159 years on record. The heaviest was 1922, with 20.
In 1910, 121 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 43rd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1910, 124 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 47th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Samuel was 52. Of the 16 killed feloniously at Southern Railway Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 32 and 47.5; the middle age was 37.5. Samuel had served 10 years; the middle length of service was 8.5 years.
Samuel was 52. Of the 580 killed feloniously in DC whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 44; the middle age was 36. Samuel had served 10 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
Samuel was 52. 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. Samuel had served 10 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Samuel was 52. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Samuel had served 10 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
January holds 23.5% of these deaths at Southern Railway Police Department, more than any other month. Fridays: 11.8%.
January holds 8.6% of these deaths in DC; July holds the most, 11.7%. Fridays: 16.2%.
January holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.
January holds 7.9% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Fridays: 14.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 94.4% of all 18 deaths at Southern Railway Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was officer's handgun, in 17.6% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 53.1% of all 1,419 deaths in DC, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was officer's handgun, in 3.8% 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 officer's handgun, in 5.8% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was officer's handgun, in 5.2% of these deaths.
His people
Southern Railway Police Department has 18 officers remembered here, Samuel among them.
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J. H. Crawford Feb 16, 1908
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Samuel H. Boyer
Jan 28, 1910
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Harry S. Murphy Apr 29, 1912
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John Gibby Feb 28, 1913
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Charles W. Clark Apr 13, 1918
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Travis W. Greer Jan 4, 1921
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Eugene Malici Feaster Aug 30, 1922
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James Reedy Booth Aug 30, 1922
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Henning Franklin Musselwhite Aug 2, 1925
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Willie Joseph Young
Jan 16, 1927
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William Arthur Brown Feb 27, 1929
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Glenn Lafayette Varnell
Aug 25, 1929
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Wilbur McKinley Brown Dec 15, 1930
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Frank B. Lakey
Jan 10, 1935
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William Myrtle McIntyre
Feb 23, 1935
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John Holcombe Woodson
Aug 5, 1946
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Herbert Mitchell Gash Jul 29, 1958
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Jack R. Armstrong
Apr 25, 1968
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
What is kept
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Others Who Wore This Badge
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