Cornelius Rowley

King County Sheriffs Dept. — Seattle, WA

Felonious

End of Watch July 4, 1902

The Vigil Panel 17 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 17

Incident

Posseman Cornelius Rowley was one of six officers shot and killed by an escaped convict associated with the Butch Cassidy Gang. Correctional Officer Bailey Tiffany, Correctional Officer Thurston Jones, and Correctional Officer Frank Ferrell, of the Oregon Department of Corrections, were shot and killed on June 9th, 1902, by an inmate as he escaped from the Oregon State Penitentiary. The man also killed three civilians during the escape. A large multi-state manhunt was initiated following the escape and murders. On July 3rd, 1902, the man setup an ambush in a wooded area along the train tracks between Woodinville and Wayne, in Washington, as a posse searched the area. He shot and killed Detective Charles Raymond, of the Everett Police Department, and wounded Deputy John Williams, of the King County Sheriff's Department. Deputy Williams later committed suicide as a result of the incident. The suspect then fled the scene and invaded a house near the northwest corner of Woodland Park, in Seattle, where he took the occupants hostage and ate dinner. As he left the house he encountered other officers and engaged them in a shootout. Posseman Neil Rowley of the King County Sheriff's Department and Officer Enoch Breece of the Seattle Police Department were both shot and killed. On August 6th, 1902, the man committed suicide after being wounded during a shootout with a posse in Lincoln County, Washington.

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Permanent identifier: BO-US-WA-3B591595
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Posseman Rowley served with the King County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Seattle community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Posseman Rowley.

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

Agency

Department King County Sheriffs Dept.

Location Seattle, WA

Platform Identity kingso.king.wa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 4, 1902

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Not available

Posseman Cornelius Rowley is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In WA, 187 of 339 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 55.2% of this state's fallen. That is 1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At King County Sheriffs Dept., 11 of 18 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.1% of this agency's fallen.

King County Sheriffs Dept.

of 18 officers

61.1% Felonious

WA — Statewide

187

of 339 officers

55.2% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious