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Deputy U.S. Marshal

Holmes Davidson

United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service — Washington, DC
Felonious
United States flag District of Columbia flag
End of Watch July 23, 1914
The Vigil Panel 29 ›
Gender Male
Incident Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 312

Incident

Deputy Marshal Davidson and Deputy Marshal William Plank were shot and killed in Tulsa, Oklahoma, while attempting to serve a search warrant on the former Tulsa police chief who had been convicted of violating prohibition laws. When the marshals arrived at the home the man's wife refused to let them in. As the wife delayed the officers the suspect loaded a double-barrelled shotgun and opened fire through the screen door, fatally wounding Deputy Marshal Davidson. He then fired a second shot and killed Deputy Marshal Plank. The suspect reloaded and fired at the third marshal, who was retreating. The suspect then called the police and turned himself in. In 1917 the 44-year-old ex-chief was convicted of two counts of manslaughter and sentenced to four years. He was released in 1921. On October 17, 1923, he was found dead in his Tulsa home from a stroke that doctors said was caused by excessive drinking.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
NW-0A6R-XMDV-7 earlier record number BO-US-FED-131B233D
Stewardship
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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.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Davidson served with the United States Department of Justice.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy U.S. Marshal Davidson.

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

Agency

Department United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service
Type Federal Agency
Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity usms.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 23, 1914
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Shotgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Holmes is one of 15,741 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.2% of the 27,543 remembered there.

33,910 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1914, 127 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 37th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

When

July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.

By month
By day of the week
III

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.2% of all 27,543 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 7% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
IV

His people

United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service has at least 120 officers remembered here, Holmes among them.

Across the years

Deputy U.S. Marshal Holmes Davidson

United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service · End of Watch July 23, 1914

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 10-E

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