Roll of Honor
James T. Musgrove
Incident
Location: Oklahoma Weapon: Gun; Unknown type Offender: Executed in 1895
Sheriff James Musgrove was shot and killed while attempting to serve a writ on a man near Catoosa, Indian Territory (modern-day Oklahoma). The suspect had been charged with illegally driving cattle and horses to the Osage Nation and selling them.
As Sheriff Musgrove and another officer approached, the man came out of his house with a Winchester rifle and took up a position behind a log building. He opened fire through the cracks in the logs, striking Sheriff Musgrove in the abdomen.
The man fled but was eventually captured. He was convicted of Sheriff Musgrove's murder and subsequently executed by hanging on September 13, 1895.
Sheriff Musgrove was sheriff of Cooweescoowee District of the Cherokee Nation. He had served with the agency for two years.
Survivors
He was survived by his mother and brother and is buried in Woodlawn Cemtery, Claremore, Rogers County, Oklahoma.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-FED-6D0A992D- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
131 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Sheriff Musgrove gave the United States Department of the Interior 2 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff James T. Musgrove 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 the Interior - Bureau of Indian Affairs - Office of Justice Services, 45 of 52 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 86.5% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James T. Musgrove's cause is highlighted.
How James T. Musgrove Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 1895
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James T. Musgrove is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James T. Musgrove was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
51 officers from United States Department of the Interior - Bureau of Indian Affairs - Office of Justice Services are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
