James M. Maher
Agency patch
Policeman

James M. Maher

Philadelphia Police Department — Philadelphia, PA
Accident
End of Watch November 14, 1896
Age 34
The Vigil Panel 14 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Policeman James Maher was killed when he was thrown from his horse on Stone House Lane, near the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad embankment.

His skull was fractured when his head hit a rock on the embankment. Another officer located him after discovering his riderless horse on Stone House Lane. He was taken to a local hospital where he died a short time later.

Policeman Maher was survived by his wife and two children.

Survivors

Policeman Maher was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-EB2FA794
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.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew James. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

130 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Policeman Maher served with the Philadelphia Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Location Philadelphia, PA
Platform Identity ppd.philadelphia.pa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 14, 1896
Age 34
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Policeman James M. Maher is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In PA, 417 of 1,261 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 33.1% of this state's fallen. That is 2.1 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.

At Philadelphia Police Department, 110 of 378 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 29.1% of this agency's fallen.

Philadelphia Police Department
110
of 378 officers
29.1% Accident
PA — Statewide
417
of 1,261 officers
33.1% Accident
Nationwide
10,088
of 32,508 officers
31% Accident

National Cause Distribution

How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James M. Maher'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 M. Maher Compares

Age at End of Watch
34
This officer
Avg for Accident: 38.1 years

When Accident Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. James M. Maher is highlighted in Nov.

Jan
820
Feb
730
Mar
748
Apr
707
May
847
Jun
795
Jul
897
Aug
937
Sep
913
Oct
925
Nov
872
Dec
897

Incident Location