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Matthew E. McGrath
Incident
Special Detective Matthew McGrath was shot and killed just before midnight by three thieves in a Pullman railroad car in the Illinois Central Yard in the area of East 27th Street in Chicago, Illinois. Due to continued thefts of brass and other valuable fixtures from the interiors of the Pullman cars, the Illinois Central detailed an extra force to patrol the yards and McGrath and his partner were sent out. The detectives boarded the train, made up of empty Pullman cars, to go to the 'Y' at 72nd Street. McGrath hid in a clothes closet and his partner hid under a seat. The detectives had been in the car only a few minutes when a door was forced open and three men entered. At that moment, McGrath slipped out of the closet and faced them. As he did so, one of them raised a revolver, fired a bullet striking McGrath just above the heart. He was killed instantly. Just as the shot that killed McGrath was fired, the second detective came out from under the seat to assist his comrade. One of the robbers felled him in turn with a blow on the head with a revolver. In spite of his wound, the detective fought with one of the men and struggled through the car in the aisle where McGrath lay. Another of the robbers saw an opening and fired point blank at the detective, who received the bullet over the heart and fell to the floor. In another car were two other detectives who heard the gunfire. Unable to distinguish the forms of the struggling men and were at first hesitant to shoot. After the second detective fell, the backup officers rushed into the car. The thieves, not expecting this new attack, turned and jumped through the car windows, carrying the glass with them, running down the yards towards Fourteenth Street. One of the other detectives fired several shots after the fleeing men. By this time, the full force of the railroad detectives was alerted and hurrying toward the fatal Pullman car. With the sound of crashing glass, they turned to learn the cause and saw the men runnin
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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 McGrath gave the Illinois Central Railroad Police Department 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Agent McGrath.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Illinois Central Railroad Police Department has lost 12 officers; 10 of them killed feloniously.
Matthew is one of 842 officers killed feloniously in IL, 63.9% of the 1,318 remembered there.
Matthew is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Matthew is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1903, 1 officer at Illinois Central Railroad Police Department was killed feloniously, the 2nd heaviest of 9 years on record. The heaviest was 1936, with 2.
In 1903, 10 officers in IL were killed feloniously, the 22nd heaviest of 154 years on record. The heaviest was 1924, with 22.
In 1903, 103 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 50th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1903, 106 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 57th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Matthew was 28. Of the 9 killed feloniously at Illinois Central Railroad Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 36; the middle age was 35. Matthew had served 15 years; the middle length of service was 15 years.
Matthew was 28. Of the 762 killed feloniously in IL whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 45; the middle age was 38. Matthew had served 15 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Matthew was 28. 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. Matthew had served 15 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Matthew was 28. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Matthew had served 15 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
August holds 10% of these deaths at Illinois Central Railroad Police Department; February holds the most, 20%. Saturdays: 10%.
August holds 9.4% of these deaths in IL; July holds the most, 10.3%. Saturdays: 15.8%.
August holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.
August holds 8.6% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Saturdays: 16.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 83.3% of all 12 deaths at Illinois Central Railroad Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 10% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 63.9% of all 1,318 deaths in IL, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 30.6% of these deaths.
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.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 20.4% of these deaths.
His people
Illinois Central Railroad Police Department has 12 officers remembered here, Matthew among them.
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Matthew E. McGrath
Aug 8, 1903
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Victor C. Benner Dec 7, 1911
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Cyrus E. Van Sickle Feb 11, 1916
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Louis Edward Baum Jul 27, 1927
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Joseph J. Kucera, Jr. Apr 29, 1929
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Christopher O. McClure Feb 17, 1931
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Frank M. Bolen
Apr 26, 1933
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Richard Kelly May 30, 1935
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Roy Dale Zearfoss
Jul 17, 1936
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William Urban Sprous Sep 13, 1936
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John Ben Merz Oct 11, 1949
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Jess Anderson
Sep 11, 1950
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 39-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
11 officers from Illinois Central Railroad Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
