James Green
Agency patch
Deputy Constable

James Green

Union County Constable's Office — Morganfield, KY
Felonious
End of Watch April 14, 1897
The Vigil Panel 14 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Constable James Green was shot and killed as he and another county constable escorted two prisoners to jail. The men had been arrested for robbing the post office at DeKoven several weeks earlier.

As the group neared DeKoven, the two suspects fled into the woods and ran to a nearby cabin where they previously hidden a Winchester rifle. As the constables were approaching the cabin one of the men opened fire, killing Deputy Green. A posse surrounded the cabin but the two men were able to escape. They were apprehended three months later. Both were charged with murder.

One suspect was tried and acquitted. The other suspect, a cousin of Frank and Jesse James, was never tried for murder but did receive a 15 year sentence for several robberies. He escaped from prison in July of 1898. A year later there was a unsuccessful attempt to capture him in North Carolina. It is not known if he was ever captured.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-9F505A14
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

129 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Constable Green served with the Union County Constable's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Morganfield community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Location Morganfield, KY
Platform Identity ucco.union.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 14, 1897
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Rifle; Winchester
Offender Apprehended

Deputy Constable James Green 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 KY, 755 of 983 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 76.8% of this state's fallen. That is 22.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

Union County Constable's Office
1
of 1 officers
100% Felonious
KY — Statewide
755
of 983 officers
76.8% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Green's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How James Green Compares

Offender Outcome

Apprehended

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Green is highlighted in Apr.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James Green was killed by rifle; winchester.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518