Incident
Warden Solon Tenney was stabbed to death by a prisoner at the Charlestown State Prison.
The prisoner, a 20-year-old male, who was serving time in prison for assaulting a jail guard, was unhappy about the amount of meat he had been receiving at meal time. The man had made the knife in the prison shop. As Warden Tenney was making his rounds of the prison at approximately 3:30 pm the prisoenr ran up behind him and stabbed him in the neck. Warden Tenney was able to draw his revolver as he fell to the floor, but fired no shots. The guard on duty in the shop and two other prisoners restrained the inmate and placed him in irons.
Warden Tenney was taken to the prison hospital where he died from his wound.
The inmate later told an investigating coroner that he got the idea to stab Warden Tenney in the neck after another prisoner had stabbed Deputy Warden Galen Walker in the neck two weeks earlier.
The inmate was convicted of Warden Tenney's murder and sentenced to death. While awaiting his execution he died in prison on January 12th, 1858.
Warden Tenney had served in several correctional institutions over a 12-year period.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife of three weeks.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtp9cc77bqbt7q15qh5yy- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Solon. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
170 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Warden Tenney gave the Massachusetts Department of Correction 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Milford community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Massachusetts Department of Correction has lost 15 officers; 13 of them killed feloniously.
Solon is one of 199 officers killed feloniously in MA, 42.4% of the 469 remembered there.
Solon is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Solon 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 1856, 2 officers at Massachusetts Department of Correction were killed feloniously, the 3rd heaviest of 6 years on record. The heaviest was 1928, with 3.
In 1856, 2 officers in MA were killed feloniously, the 24th heaviest of 107 years on record. The heaviest was 1908, with 6.
In 1856, 5 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 182nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1856, 6 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 191st heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Solon was 32. Of the 13 killed feloniously at Massachusetts Department of Correction whose age is recorded, half were between 41 and 50; the middle age was 46. Solon had served 12 years; the middle length of service was 12 years.
Solon was 32. Of the 195 killed feloniously in MA whose age is recorded, half were between 34 and 52.5; the middle age was 42. Solon had served 12 years; the middle length of service was 11 years.
Solon was 32. 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. Solon had served 12 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Solon was 32. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Solon had served 12 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
December holds 30.8% of these deaths at Massachusetts Department of Correction, more than any other month. Mondays: 46.2%.
December holds 8% of these deaths in MA; October holds the most, 10.6%. Mondays: 19.1%.
December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Mondays: 13.8%.
December holds 9.2% of these deaths worldwide, more than any other month. Mondays: 13.8%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 86.7% of all 15 deaths at Massachusetts Department of Correction, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was edged weapon; knife, in 15.4% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 42.4% of all 469 deaths in MA, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was edged weapon; knife, in 2.5% 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 edged weapon; knife, in 0.8% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was edged weapon; knife, in 0.7% of these deaths.
His people
Massachusetts Department of Correction has 15 officers remembered here, Solon among them.
-
Charles Lincoln, Jr. Jun 18, 1843
-
Galen Carter Walker Dec 15, 1856
-
Solon Tenney
Dec 29, 1856
-
Wilfred Gerrior
Feb 13, 1928
-
Eugene Amlaw Feb 13, 1928
-
Fredrick Pfliiger Nov 11, 1928
-
Lewis D. Richards
Dec 3, 1935
-
Walter R. Doucette
Dec 24, 1935
-
George Landry
Jan 1, 1942
-
Howard V. Murphy
Jan 1, 1942
-
Franklin L. Weston
Jan 1, 1942
-
Alfred J. Baranowski
Jul 31, 1972
-
James R. Souza
Jul 31, 1972
-
Joseph Anthony Ribeiro, Sr.
Jun 25, 1998
-
Michael Mellen
Aug 25, 2011
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 38-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
14 officers from Massachusetts Department of Correction are honored on badge.nw.









