Incident
Marshal Enos Rath succumbed to wounds sustained when he was violently assaulted while patrolling the streets between 12:00 and 12:45 A.M. He interrupted three men who were attempting to break into a business. The three men began to beat him with a blunt object as he tried to flee and call out for help. The men fled when a woman screamed at them. Marshal Rath managed to pull himself onto the front porch of a home and alert him for help. Marshal Rath told the resident that he had come upon some hobos who had pulled a couple of guns out on him. At that time, one of the suspects hit Marshal Rath on the head, and he lost his revolver in the scuffle. Marshal Rath said he did not recognize any of the men. Marshal Rath was left with four skull fractures and succumbed to his wounds later in the day. Three suspects from Antwerp were arrested for the murder of Marshal Rath. They were tried and convicted, although they had an alibi and no motive. Two were convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. The third suspect was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 25 years. One died in prison on January 7, 1902. Records show that he was posthumously pardoned. A second suspect was pardoned on July 4, 1908, provided that he abstained from liquor during his life. The third suspect was paroled on July 12, 1907. Marshal Rath had served with the Hicksville Police Department for four years and previously served with the Defiance Police Department for three years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, son, and daughter.
In Our Keeping
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- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
127 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Marshal Rath gave the Hicksville Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Hicksville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Marshal Enos Rath 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Enos Rath's cause is highlighted.
How Enos Rath Compares
Offender Outcome
Convicted of murder then pardoned
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Enos Rath is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Enos Rath was killed by person.