Roll of Honor
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
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BO-US-KY-9F505A14- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Constable James Green is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 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 76.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Green's cause is highlighted.
How James Green Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Green is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James Green was killed by rifle; winchester.
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from Union County Constable's Office are honored on badge.nw.