John C. Stephenson

United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service — Washington, DC

Felonious

End of Watch July 11, 1873

Age 27

The Vigil Panel 4 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 312

Incident

Deputy Marshal John Stephenson was stabbed to death in Jersey City, New Jersey, by a deserter from a Russian ship. Deputy Marshal Stephenson had arrested the man and was walking with him on Grand Street when the man suddenly pulled out a knife and stabbed the marshal. The suspect attempted to commit suicide and was later arrested. The suspect was convicted of Deputy Stephenson's murder and was hanged at the Hudson County Jail in 1874.

Survivors

Deputy Marshal Stephenson was survived by his wife and six children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-FED-5DDAB67C
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.

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Tributes

153 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Stephenson served with the United States Department of Justice.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Department United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service

Location Washington, DC

Platform Identity usms.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 11, 1873

Age 27

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Edged weapon; Knife

Offender Executed

Deputy U.S. Marshal John C. Stephenson 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 DC, 754 of 1,419 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

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 1,419 officers

53.1% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious