William Lewis
Agency patch
Night Watchman

William Lewis

Felonious
End of Watch June 28, 1895
Age 29
Tour of Duty 9 mo
The Vigil Panel 13 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Location: Ohio Weapon: Handgun Offender: Never charged

Night Watchman William Lewis was shot and killed in the Pennsylvania Railroad yards at the Little Miami Depot in Cincinnati, Ohio.

He was walking the tracks at approximately 8:30 pm when he was shot several times by two men, who then fled on foot. The men remained at large for two years until two men were identified as suspects after a brother of one of the men informed detectives of the crime. Detectives were unable to collect enough evidence to prosecute either man.

Watchman Lewis had served with the Pennsylvania Railroad Police Department for nine months.

Survivors

He was survived by his mother, brother, and three sisters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-RR-29FD31BC
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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

131 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Night Watchman Lewis served with the Pennsylvania Railroad Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphpia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Philadelphpia, PA
Platform Identity pennpd.rr.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 28, 1895
Tour of Duty 9 mo
Age 29
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Handgun

Night Watchman William Lewis 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 PA, 597 of 1,261 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 47.3% of this state's fallen. That is 47.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Pennsylvania Railroad Police Department, 13 of 36 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 36.1% of this agency's fallen.

Pennsylvania Railroad Police Department
13
of 36 officers
36.1% Felonious
PA — Statewide
597
of 1,261 officers
47.3% 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. William Lewis's cause is highlighted.

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

How William Lewis Compares

Age at Death
29
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
0.7
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Lewis is highlighted in Jun.

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. William Lewis was killed by handgun.

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

Incident Location