Cornelius Finley
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Deputy U.S. Marshal

Cornelius Finley

Felonious
End of Watch September 2, 1878
Age 49
The Vigil Panel 6 ›
Gender Male

Incident

United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service, U.S. Government

Deputy Marshal Cornelius Finley and Deputy Marshal John Hicks Adams were shot and killed near what is modern day Davidson's Canyon, Arizona.

The suspects were chased in Mexico and apprehended but never tried or convicted in connection with either murder. However, they were later killed by a posse.

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

148 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Finley served with the United States Department of Justice.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

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

Service Record

End of Watch September 2, 1878
Age 49
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

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

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1878, 51 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 139th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Cornelius was 49. 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.

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

When

September holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Mondays: 13.8%.

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 - United States Marshals Service has at least 120 officers remembered here, Cornelius among them.

Across the years

Deputy U.S. Marshal Cornelius Finley

United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service · End of Watch September 2, 1878

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 60-W

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