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Stephen D. Mather
Incident
Deputy Collector Mather, Revenue Agent Creed Cardwell, and Chief Deputy Revenue Collector Joe Spurrier were shot and killed in an ambush in Lincoln County, Tennessee, while en route to investigate reports of an illegal liquor still. They were ambushed as they were riding their horses down a remote trail. The agents were able to return fire, and one of the suspects was also shot and killed. Deputy Collector Mather was killed at the scene. Other agents were able to take the two wounded agents to a local doctor, where Agent Cardwell died later in the day. Chief Deputy Spurrier was taken to his home in Nashville, where he succumbed to his wounds three weeks later.
Survivors
Deputy Collector Mather had served with the United States Department of the Treasury - Office of Internal Revenue for ten years and was survived by his wife and daughter.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
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- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
134 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Collector Mather gave the United States Department of the Treasury 10 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
United States Department of the Treasury - Office of Internal Revenue has lost 27 officers; 25 of them killed feloniously.
Stephen is one of 754 officers killed feloniously in DC, 53.1% of the 1,419 remembered there.
Stephen is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Stephen is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 52% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1892, 2 officers at United States Department of the Treasury - Office of Internal Revenue were killed feloniously, the 2nd heaviest of 20 years on record. The heaviest was 1875, with 3.
In 1892, 15 officers in DC were killed feloniously, the 4th heaviest of 159 years on record. The heaviest was 1922, with 20.
In 1892, 81 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 82nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1892, 84 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 81st heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Stephen was 48. Of the 22 killed feloniously at United States Department of the Treasury - Office of Internal Revenue whose age is recorded, half were between 29.3 and 40.8; the middle age was 35.5. Stephen had served 10 years; the middle length of service was 11 years.
Stephen was 48. Of the 580 killed feloniously in DC whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 44; the middle age was 36. Stephen had served 10 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
Stephen was 48. 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. Stephen had served 10 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Stephen was 48. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Stephen had served 10 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
October holds 12% of these deaths at United States Department of the Treasury - Office of Internal Revenue; December holds the most, 16%. Fridays: 24%.
October holds 6% of these deaths in DC; July holds the most, 11.7%. Fridays: 16.2%.
October holds 7.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.
October holds 7.8% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Fridays: 14.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 92.6% of all 27 deaths at United States Department of the Treasury - Office of Internal Revenue, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 4% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 53.1% of all 1,419 deaths in DC, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 35% 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 gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 52% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 20.4% of these deaths.
His people
United States Department of the Treasury - Office of Internal Revenue has 27 officers remembered here, Stephen among them.
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William Henry Fowler Aug 10, 1867
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Ellis T. Jenkins Feb 15, 1871
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Clinton Gilbert
Jul 16, 1871
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Jerome E. Goodner Jan 26, 1875
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J. Holman Leatherwood May 22, 1875
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Elisha Graham Johnson
Jul 21, 1875
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George W. Stebbins Apr 18, 1878
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John Hutson Cooper Aug 9, 1878
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Samuel Waite Seawell Feb 26, 1879
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Thomas L. Brayton Jul 20, 1881
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James M. Davis Mar 13, 1882
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Henry Foote Walker Feb 10, 1883
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William Henderson Foote
Dec 29, 1883
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James N. Hamilton Oct 18, 1886
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Frank Weller
Aug 14, 1889
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Frank Weir
Sep 19, 1890
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Ralph Izard Barnwell
Mar 20, 1891
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Stephen D. Mather Oct 7, 1892
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Joe L. Spurrier
Oct 27, 1892
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Eli Abijah Moffitt
Dec 4, 1896
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Marion Asher Braddock Tatum Oct 19, 1897
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George Ratliff Jun 29, 1899
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John F. Lanier Dec 24, 1900
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John Carver Jan 10, 1905
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John Walter Hendrix
Dec 20, 1907
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William Arnot Anderson Apr 13, 1910
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John Savage West
Feb 10, 1915
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 22-W
Others Who Wore This Badge
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