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City Marshal

Marion Thomas

Empire City Marshal's Office — Galena, KS

Felonious

End of Watch February 4, 1900

Age 38

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

The Vigil Panel 16 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

City Marshal Marion Thomas was shot and killed when he attempted to arrest a man in a saloon on Columbus Street who was drunk and creating a disturbance.

The suspect surrendered to the city marshal in nearby Galena. The suspect was convicted of City Marshal Thomas' murder and sentenced to 20 years in prison. On April 5, 1902, he was released from jail when the Kansas Supreme Court ruled that the court that tried him had been illegally created.

Marshal Thomas had served with the Empire City Marshal's Office for three years.

Empire City, Kansas, was annexed into Galena, Kansas, in 1907.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, son, mother, and two brothers.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-KS-78D14083
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

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
City Marshal Thomas gave the Empire City Marshal's Office 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Galena community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, City Marshal Thomas.

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

Agency

Department Empire City Marshal's Office

Location Galena, KS

Platform Identity emarshal.cherokee.ks.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 4, 1900

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

Age 38

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Released in 1902

City Marshal Marion Thomas 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 KS, 237 of 335 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 70.7% of this state's fallen. That is 16.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

Empire City Marshal's Office

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

KS — Statewide

237

of 335 officers

70.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Marion Thomas's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How Marion Thomas Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Released in 1902

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Marion Thomas is highlighted in Feb.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Marion Thomas was killed by gun; unknown type.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518