Nelson B. Klein Sr.
Agency patch
Special Agent

Nelson B. Klein Sr.

Felonious
End of Watch August 16, 1935
Age 37
Tour of Duty 9 yrs
The Vigil Panel 70 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Special Agent Nelson Klein was shot and killed while he and another special agent attempted to arrest a man for car theft and interstate transportation of stolen vehicles in West College Corner, Indiana. When the agents instructed the suspect to surrender, the man ran behind a garage and opened fire, fatally wounding Agent Klein. Agent Klein and the other agent were able to return fire, wounding the suspect in both legs. The 48-year-old suspect was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. On March 24th, 1936, he was executed by hanging at the Marion County Jail in Indianapolis. He was the second person to be tried and the first person sentenced to death under a federal law allowing the death penalty for the murder of a federal agent. Special Agent Klein had served with the Federal Bureau of Investigation for nine years. He was survived by his wife and three children. One of Special Agent Klein's sons, Special Agent Nelson Klein Jr., was killed in the line of duty on May 29th, 1969, while also serving with the FBI.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Special Agent Klein gave the United States Department of Justice 9 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Agent Klein.

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

Agency

Type Federal Agency
Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity usdjfbifed.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 16, 1935
Tour of Duty 9 yrs
Age 37
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Nelson is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1935, 154 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 25th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Nelson was 37. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Nelson had served 9 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

August holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation has 89 officers remembered here, Nelson among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Special Agent Nelson B. Klein Sr.

United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation · End of Watch August 16, 1935

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 36-W

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