Roll of Honor
Incident
City Marshal William Talbott was shot and killed by a local merchant he was attempting to arrest for public drunkenness in the city's business district.
Marshal Talbott had instructed the man to re-enter his business due to his level of intoxication. The man stepped inside the building but then drew a .38 caliber pistol and shot Marshal Talbott. Marshal Talbott collapsed into the arms of his oldest son.
The man then barricaded himself inside the business but was arrested a short time later by the county sheriff.
One week later the suspect was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. On April 12, 1913, the suspect was working at his machine at the Kansas Penitentiary twine factory when the machine exploded causing a fire. He tried his best to put the fire out but was burned badly. Guards and other inmates worked to control the fire and saved many inmates and prison employees. But the building along with three others was destroyed because other inmates did all they could to cause the fire to spread faster. All inmates who did their part to help either had their sentences reduced, were paroled, or pardoned.
City Marshal Talbott was a Union Army veteran of the Civil War.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KS-F5B68692- 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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
City Marshal Talbott served with the La Crosse Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the La Crosse community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
William J. Talbott served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
City Marshal William J. Talbott 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William J. Talbott's cause is highlighted.
How William J. Talbott Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William J. Talbott is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William J. Talbott was killed by handgun; .38 caliber.