Deputy U.S. Marshal

Joseph S. Wilson

Felonious
End of Watch September 23, 1891
The Vigil Panel 11 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Marshal Joseph Wilson was shot and killed while serving an arrest on a man near Tahlequah, Indian Territory. During the arrest the two exchanges shots and Deputy Marshal Wilson was struck in the side. The suspect and another man fled the scene but returned the following day and found Deputy Marshal Wilson still alive. They then beat him with a piece of firewood and an axe, killing him. The buried his body in a nearby ravine. The two suspects turned themselves in several days later. One of the suspects was initially sentenced to death but later sentenced to only 5 years after appealing his sentence. The second suspect was acquitted. Deputy Wilson is buried in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

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Tributes

135 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Wilson served with the United States Department of Justice.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Type Federal Agency
Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity usms.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 23, 1891
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Edged weapon

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Joseph is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1891, 62 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 121st heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

When

September holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.

By month
By day of the week
III

How

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, in 2.2% 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, Joseph among them.

Across the years

Deputy U.S. Marshal Joseph S. Wilson

United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service · End of Watch September 23, 1891

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 50-W

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