Roll of Honor

Prev Next

Town Marshal

Allen Belcher

Malden Marshal's Office — Malden, WV

Felonious

End of Watch November 15, 1881

Age 49

The Vigil Panel 7 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Town Marshal Allen Belcher was shot and killed by a notorious criminal who also attempted to shoot the mayor in the same incident. The 64-year-old suspect was taken into custody and charged with the murder. The townspeople formed a mob and attempted to lynch him. In January 1882 the subject was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. He was granted a new trial, convicted of second-degree murder, and sentenced to 11 years. On December 14th, 1886, he was pardoned by Governor Emanuel W. Wilson.

Survivors

Town Marshal Belcher was survived by his wife and eight children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-WV-92FFBE66
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Allen. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

145 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Town Marshal Belcher served with the Malden Marshal's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Malden community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Department Malden Marshal's Office

Type Other

Location Malden, WV

Platform Identity mmarshal.kanawha.wv.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 15, 1881

Age 49

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun

Town Marshal Allen Belcher is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,756 officers honored here.

In WV, 169 of 232 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 72.8% of this state's fallen. That is 72.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

Malden Marshal's Office

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

WV — Statewide

169

of 232 officers

72.8% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,756 officers

0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

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

Felonious

1 (0%)

Accident

1 (0%)

Illness

1 (0%)

Cardiac

1 (0%)

Undetermined

1 (0%)

Suicide

1 (0%)

How Allen Belcher Compares

Age at Death

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Allen Belcher is highlighted in Nov.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,516

May

1,504

Jun

1,442

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,517

Sep

1,491

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Allen Belcher was killed by gun.

Handgun

3,684

Gun

3,592

Gun; Unknown type

1,492

Shotgun

1,109

Rifle

935

Officer's handgun

909

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

0 officers from Malden Marshal's Office are honored on badge.nw.