James H. Short
Agency patch
Deputy U.S. Marshal

James H. Short

Felonious
End of Watch May 26, 1923
Age 46
The Vigil Panel 45 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Location: Kentucky Weapon: Handgun Offender: Paroled in 1932

Deputy Marshal Short was shot and killed near Maulden, Kentucky, while attempting to serve a warrant on a man for illegally producing whiskey. The suspect fled into the nearby hills after shooting Deputy Marshal Short.

The suspect was apprehended in Terre Haute, Indiana, on August 2, 1926. He was returned to Kentucky, convicted of murder, and sentenced to life. On July 13, 1930, he was one of 25 lifers who had there sentence commuted to 21 years, making them eligible for parole in six years. On April 30, 1932, he was one of 129 inmates who were paroled.

Deputy Marshal Short was survived by his wife.

Survivors

Deputy Marshal Short was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-B5AC3566
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Short served with the United States Department of Justice.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy U.S. Marshal Short.

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

Agency

Type Federal Agency
Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity usms.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 26, 1923
Age 46
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Handgun

Deputy U.S. Marshal James H. Short 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 DC, 754 of 1,418 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.2% of this state's fallen. That is 53.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service, 251 of 313 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 80.2% of this agency's fallen.

United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service
251
of 313 officers
80.2% Felonious
DC — Statewide
754
of 1,418 officers
53.2% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

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

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How James H. Short Compares

Age at Death
46
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James H. Short is highlighted in May.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James H. Short was killed by handgun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909