Prison Guard

James Hart

Missouri Department of Corrections — Jefferson City, MO
Felonious
End of Watch February 4, 1924
Age 60
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
The Vigil Panel 46 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Guard James Hart was beaten and strangled to death by three inmates who were attempting to escape from the Missouri State Penitentiary.

The inmates were able to make it out of the prison during a severe winter snowstorm but were tracked by officers and fatally shot.

Guard Hart had served with the Missouri Department of Corrections for three years.

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.
Prison Guard Hart gave the Missouri Department of Corrections 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Missouri. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Prison Guard Hart.

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

Agency

Type Corrections
Location Jefferson City, Cole County, MO
Platform Identity mdcorr.cole.mo.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 4, 1924
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
Age 60
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Assault
Weapon Person

The Sacrifice · Felonious

James 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
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1924, 225 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 4th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

James was 60. 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. James had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

February holds 7.4% 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 person, in 2% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Missouri Department of Corrections has 20 officers remembered here, James among them.

VI

Where

Prison Guard James Hart

Missouri Department of Corrections · End of Watch February 4, 1924

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 40-W

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