Roll of Honor
Elmer Colby Matthews
Incident
Location: Kentucky Weapon: Officer's handgun Offender: Arrested
Special Agent Elmer Matthews was shot and killed with his own service revolver while attempting to arrest three hobos on a freight train that was traveling south between Ludlow and Crescent Springs, Kentucky.
It had just crossed a trestle and was slowly traveling up a grade on Erlanger Hill when Agent Matthews encountered the men inside of a gondola car. The men initially complied when he placed them under arrest, but then attacked him when he momentarily turned his back. One of the men disarmed him and fatally shot him with his own service weapon. All three men jumped from the train and fled as the train crew came to Agent Matthews assistance.
Two subjects were arrested in November 1915 and charged with Agent Matthews' murder.
Agent Matthews had served with the Queen and Crescent Railroad Police Department for three years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, parents, two brothers, and three sisters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-RR-907A62AC- 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.
Special Agent Matthews gave the Cincinnati, New Orleans and Texas Pacific Railway Police 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Cincinnati community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Agent Matthews.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Special Agent Elmer Colby Matthews 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 OH, 572 of 991 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.7% of this state's fallen. That is 3.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Cincinnati, New Orleans and Texas Pacific Railway Police, 3 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Elmer Colby Matthews's cause is highlighted.
How Elmer Colby Matthews Compares
Offender Outcome
Arrested
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Elmer Colby Matthews is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Elmer Colby Matthews was killed by officer's handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Cincinnati, New Orleans and Texas Pacific Railway Police are honored on badge.nw.
