Theodore Catlin

Michigan Department of Corrections — Lansing, MI

Felonious

End of Watch January 26, 1922

The Vigil Panel 42 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 14

Incident

Warden Theodore Catlin and Deputy Warden Fred Menhennett, of the Marquette Branch Prison, were both stabbed by Arthur ( Gypsy Bob) Harper on December 11, 1921. The attack occurred during an afternoon movie showing at the prison. Harper, assisted by two other inmates, hiding in the theater ran up to Warden Catlin and stabbed him repeatedly. Warden Menhennett tried to intercede and was mortally wounded in the process. Harper and two accomplices chased Catlin down and continued their attack before finally being subdued. Menhennett died the next day, while Catlin lived for six more weeks. Harper was reportedly angry at the new warden for taking away some of his freedoms as awarded by the previous warden. Harper, age 42, a notorious gangster whose criminal record went back 30 years, was then and now known as Michigan's most dangerous inmate. He was transferred from Jackson Prison to Marquette in 1919 after he murdered a fellow inmate. He was never tried for the warden's murders but was flogged each day for several weeks. Flogging was a form of punishment allowed in the 1920s. He spent 17 years in solitary confinement and died of heart attack in prison in 1953. Harper's two accomplices were also never tried. Both were punished with solitary confinement. One was released from solitary after 12 years and released from prison in 1936 after he had served his term for burglary. The other, in solitary, went insane in 1933 and was transferred to Ionia hospital for the criminally insane where he died in 1968. This was the first time in the history of the department that employees of a Michigan prison were killed by inmates.

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Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Warden Catlin served with the Michigan Department of Corrections.
Thank you for your service to the people of Michigan. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Warden Catlin.

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

Agency

Department Michigan Department of Corrections

Location Lansing, MI

Platform Identity michcorr.ingham.mi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 26, 1922

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Edged weapon

Offender Died in prison

Warden Theodore Catlin 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 MI, 426 of 718 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59.3% of this state's fallen. That is 5.1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Michigan Department of Corrections, 9 of 15 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60% of this agency's fallen.

Michigan Department of Corrections

of 15 officers

60% Felonious

MI — Statewide

426

of 718 officers

59.3% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious