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Incident
Deputy Sheriff Edwin Daniels was shot and killed as he and two Pinkerton private detectives searched for members of the James Younger Gang. They were wanted for a train robbery that occurred three months earlier. The three men were following a trail about three miles from the town of Roscoe when they were ambushed by the two Younger brothers. When the suspects told the men to drop their weapons, Deputy Daniels shot and killed one of them.
The other brother returned fire with a double-barreled shotgun, striking Deputy Daniels in the chest. He then shot and wounded one of the railroad detectives with the other barrel. The suspect then shot and fatally wounded Deputy Daniels with a pistol before fleeing the scene. He was later sentenced to 25 years in a Minnesota prison for a bank robbery and committed suicide after being paroled in 1901.
The brother who was shot and killed was wanted in Texas for the double murder of Deputy James McMahan and Deputy Charles Nichols, of the Dallas County Sheriff's Department, on January 16, 1871. The Younger Gang was also connected to the death of Bureau of Indian Affairs Police Officer Frank West in 1886 by the husband of Bell Starr, an accomplice of the Younger Gang.
Deputy Daniels had served with the agency for five years and is buried in Osceola, St. Clair County, Missouri. During the Civil War he served as a private with the Massachusetts 8th Light Artillery from June 2, 1862, until November 29 , 1862.
Deputy Sheriff Edwin Daniels was shot and killed as he and two Pinkerton private detectives searched for members of the James Younger Gang. They were wanted for a train robbery that occurred three months earlier. The three men were following a trail about three miles from the town of Roscoe when they were ambushed by the two Younger brothers. When the suspects told the men to drop their weapons, Deputy Daniels shot and killed one of them.
The brother who was shot and killed was wanted in Texas for the double murder of Deputy James McMahan and Deputy Charles Nichols, of the Dallas County Sheriff's Department, on January 16, 1871. The Younger Gang was also connected to the death of Bureau of Indian Affairs Police Officer Frank West in 1886 by the husband of Bell Starr, an accomplice of the Younger Gang.
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Tributes
152 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Sheriff Daniels gave the St. Clair County Sheriff's Office 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Osceola community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Edwin is the only officer of St. Clair County Sheriff's Office remembered here.
Edwin is one of 527 officers killed feloniously in MO, 63.6% of the 829 remembered there.
Edwin is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Edwin 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 1874, 4 officers in MO were killed feloniously, the 41st heaviest of 146 years on record. The heaviest was 1920, with 16.
In 1874, 34 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 151st heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1874, 35 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 152nd heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Edwin was 31. Of the 477 killed feloniously in MO whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 48; the middle age was 39. Edwin had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Edwin was 31. 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. Edwin had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Edwin was 31. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Edwin had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
March holds 8% of these deaths in MO; December holds the most, 11%. Tuesdays: 14.6%.
March holds 7.5% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.
March holds 7.8% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Tuesdays: 13.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 100% of all 1 deaths at St. Clair County Sheriff's Office. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 100% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 63.6% of all 829 deaths in MO, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 5.7% 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 shotgun, in 7% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 6.3% of these deaths.
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 30-E
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