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Samuel Parkinson Cowley
Agency patch
Special Agent

Samuel Parkinson Cowley

United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation — Washington, DC
Felonious
United States flag District of Columbia flag
End of Watch November 28, 1934
Age 35
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
The Vigil Panel 151 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 88

Incident

Special Agent Samuel Cowley and Special Agent Herman Hollis were shot and killed by the infamous gangster Baby Face Nelson near Barrington, Illinois. When two other agents had encountered Baby Face Nelson, his wife, Helen Gillis, and a male companion, John Paul Chase, driving down a road, a gunbattle ensued as both parties recognized each other. The agent's, with their windshields shattered, were forced off the road into a field but not before they had disabled the suspect's car. As Agents Hollis and Cowley approached the scene and exited their car, they were met with gunfire by both male suspects. Agent Hollis, with massive head wounds, was pronounced dead upon arrival at a hospital and Agent Cowley died the following morning after surgery for his stomach wounds. The suspects fled the scene in the agent's car and drove to a house in Wilmette. Baby Face Nelson, who had been shot nine times, died there later that evening. His body was discovered wrapped in a blanket in a ditch in front of a cemetery in Skokie. He had also been responsible for the murder of Special Agent W. Carter Baum seven months earlier. His wife was later convicted of harboring a fugitive and served a year in prison. The male companion was the first person to be tried under a federal law allowing the death penalty for the murder of a federal agent. He was found guilty, but the jury recommended a life sentence which he served at USP Alcatraz Island until his parole in 1966. Agent Cowley had served with the Federal Bureau of Investigation for five years. He was survived by his wife and two sons. He is buried in Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park in Salt Lake City, Utah. Led by John Dillinger, the Dillinger Gang was a notorious group of Midwest bank robbers. Associates of the gang were responsible for the fatal shootings of 13 law enforcement officers in 1933 and 1934. Two infamous members of the gang, John Dillinger and Baby Face Nelson, were shot and killed by law enforcement officers in separate incidents

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two sons.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Special Agent Cowley gave the United States Department of Justice 5 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Agent Cowley.

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

Agency

Department United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation
Type Federal Agency
Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity usdjfbifed.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 28, 1934
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
Age 35
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Rifle

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Samuel 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.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1934, 178 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 16th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Samuel was 35. 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. Samuel had served 5 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 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.

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 rifle, in 5.9% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation has 89 officers remembered here, Samuel among them.

Across the years

Special Agent Samuel Parkinson Cowley

United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation · End of Watch November 28, 1934

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 30-W

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