Charles W. Niles
Deputy Warden

Charles W. Niles

Felonious
End of Watch November 8, 1886
Age 25
Tour of Duty
The Vigil Panel 25 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Warden Charlie Niles and Game Warden Lyman Hill were shot and killed while attempting to arrest two poachers on the Machias River. Deputy Warden Niles and Warden Hill had been tracking the poachers, who had been using dogs to run deer, for about ten days. When they finally approached the men, an argument broke out. As Deputy Warden Niles took off his coat in order to take hold of the poachers' dog, one of the poachers pulled out a double-barrel shotgun and opened fire. Deputy Warden Niles and Warden Hill were both killed instantly. The poachers escaped after the incident, but a posse was formed to find and arrest them. Their killer was later apprehended in California, returned to Maine, and charged with two counts of murder. He was sentenced to life but released in 1906. Deputy Warden Niles had served with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife - Warden Service for 10 days.

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August 2, 2026

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Tributes

140 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Warden Niles served with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.
Thank you for your service to the Augusta community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Type Unknown
Location Kennebec County, ME
Platform Identity mifwws.me.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 8, 1886
Tour of Duty
Age 25
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Shotgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Charles 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.

  1. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1886, 58 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 135th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.

Every year on record · Worldwide
II

Who

Charles was 25. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Charles had served 0 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

November holds 8.2% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Mondays: 13.8%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 6.3% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Maine Inland Fisheries & Wildlife - Warden Service has 16 officers remembered here, Charles among them.

VI

Where

Deputy Warden Charles W. Niles

Maine Inland Fisheries & Wildlife - Warden Service · End of Watch November 8, 1886

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 37-W

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