Joseph T. Clark

Illinois Department of Corrections — Springfield, IL

Felonious

End of Watch May 8, 1864

The Vigil Panel 2 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 31

Incident

Deputy Warden Joseph Clark succumbed to wounds he suffered days earlier after being assaulted by a prisoner at the Joliet State Prison. Deputy Warden Clark and another guard were removing a prisoner, a convicted horse thief, from his cell when the prisoner struck Deputy Warden Clark on the side of his head with a rock obtained from the quarry. The prisoner seized Deputy Warden Clark's gun and fired several shots, but missed him. After regaining consciousness, Deputy Warden Clark gained control of his weapon and shot the prisoner in his arm. Assistance arrived and placed the prisoner into custody. Deputy Warden Clark suffered a severe cut to his head, but continued his duties at the prison. A number of days later, he experienced intense pain in his head and died suddenly. An autopsy determined that he had suffered a severe skull fracture during the assault. In January 1865, the prisoner was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. On July 27, 1866, he was executed by hanging at the Will County Jail becoming the first person to be executed in the county.

Deputy Warden Joseph Clark succumbed to wounds he suffered days earlier after being assaulted by a prisoner at the Joliet State Prison.

Deputy Warden Clark and another guard were removing a prisoner, a convicted horse thief, from his cell when the prisoner struck Deputy Warden Clark on the side of his head with a rock obtained from the quarry. The prisoner seized Deputy Warden Clark's gun and fired several shots, but missed him. After regaining consciousness, Deputy Warden Clark gained control of his weapon and shot the prisoner in his arm. Assistance arrived and placed the prisoner into custody.

Deputy Warden Clark suffered a severe cut to his head, but continued his duties at the prison. A number of days later, he experienced intense pain in his head and died suddenly. An autopsy determined that he had suffered a severe skull fracture during the assault.

In January 1865, the prisoner was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. On July 27, 1866, he was executed by hanging at the Will County Jail becoming the first person to be executed in the county.

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Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

162 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Warden Clark served with the Illinois Department of Corrections.
Thank you for your service to the people of Illinois. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Department Illinois Department of Corrections

Location Springfield, IL

Platform Identity illicorr.sangamon.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 8, 1864

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Blunt object; Rock

Offender Executed in 1866

Deputy Warden Joseph T. Clark 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 IL, 842 of 1,318 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.9% of this state's fallen. That is 9.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Illinois Department of Corrections, 27 of 32 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 84.4% of this agency's fallen.

Illinois Department of Corrections

of 32 officers

84.4% Felonious

IL — Statewide

842

of 1,318 officers

63.9% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious