Edward L. Beckwith
Incident
Principal Keeper Edward Beckwith was stabbed to death by an inmate as he stood guard over 900 inmates in the Auburn State Prison mess hall. Two other prison guards standing nearby were able to wrestle the knife away from the inmate and take him into custody. The inmate had held a grudge against Keeper Beckwith for seven years, and had vowed to one day to "get him". The inmate was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to death. On September 26, 1930, he committed suicide on Sing Sing Prison's death row by strangling himself with a towel. Keeper Beckwith had served at the Auburn State Prison for 22 years.
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- August 2, 2026
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- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
22 years. You could have gone home.
Principal Keeper Beckwith gave the New York State Department of Correctional Services 22 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Albany community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Principal Keeper Beckwith.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
New York State Department of Correctional Services has lost 36 officers; 26 of them killed feloniously.
Edward is one of 739 officers killed feloniously in NY, 34.7% of the 2,132 remembered there.
Edward is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Edward 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 1930, 1 officer at New York State Department of Correctional Services was killed feloniously, the 2nd heaviest of 20 years on record. The heaviest was 1971, with 7.
In 1930, 13 officers in NY were killed feloniously, the 5th heaviest of 154 years on record. The heaviest was 2001, with 32.
In 1930, 239 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 2nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1930, 241 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 5th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Edward was 56. Of the 18 killed feloniously at New York State Department of Correctional Services whose age is recorded, half were between 35 and 44.8; the middle age was 41. Edward had served 22 years; the middle length of service was 8 years.
Edward was 56. Of the 671 killed feloniously in NY whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 43; the middle age was 35. Edward had served 22 years; the middle length of service was 8 years.
Edward was 56. 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. Edward had served 22 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Edward was 56. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Edward had served 22 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
March holds 19.2% of these deaths at New York State Department of Correctional Services; September holds the most, 26.9%. Wednesdays: 15.4%.
March holds 7.7% of these deaths in NY; September holds the most, 13.8%. Wednesdays: 9.7%.
March holds 7.5% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.
March holds 7.8% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Wednesdays: 13.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 72.2% of all 36 deaths at New York State Department of Correctional Services, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was edged weapon, in 15.4% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 34.7% of all 2,132 deaths in NY, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was edged weapon, in 2.7% 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 edged weapon, in 2.2% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was edged weapon, in 2% of these deaths.
His people
New York State Department of Correctional Services has 36 officers remembered here, Edward among them.
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Augustus T. Wright Jul 11, 1861
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Edwin A. Craft Mar 18, 1869
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Samuel Calvert Mar 17, 1872
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Harvey A. Casler Feb 8, 1877
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George McKelvey May 6, 1880
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Archibald Benedict Jan 9, 1901
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Dennis O'Brien Jan 11, 1904
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Nellie Wicks Sep 27, 1906
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Daniel J. McCarthy Jun 24, 1916
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Charles H. North Dec 12, 1917
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Charles I. Gunter Apr 17, 1919
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Jesse Christian Jul 24, 1923
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James B. Durnin Nov 17, 1927
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George A. Durnford
Dec 11, 1929
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John H. Martin Dec 15, 1929
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Edward L. Beckwith
Mar 5, 1930
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Daniel James Nickerson
Mar 25, 1934
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James H. Donovan Mar 21, 1940
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John Hartye
Apr 14, 1941
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Harold E. Bruette Jul 27, 1949
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William E. Quinn
Sep 11, 1971
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Edward T. Cunningham
Sep 13, 1971
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John D'Arcangelo, Jr.
Sep 13, 1971
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Richard J. Lewis
Sep 13, 1971
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Carl W. Valone
Sep 13, 1971
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Ronald D. Werner
Sep 13, 1971
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Harrison William Whalen
Oct 9, 1971
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Nancy Vial Aug 5, 1977
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Donna A. Payant
May 15, 1981
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Claude W. Cromie
Feb 6, 1982
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Peter Michael Petrosino
Oct 24, 1991
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James Paul Ascone
May 9, 1995
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Frank Mydlarz
Aug 1, 1999
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Raymond J. Curtis
Mar 30, 2000
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John Thomas Hart, Sr.
Sep 9, 2002
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Casimiro Maximino Pomales
Jan 28, 2011
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 62-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
35 officers from New York State Department of Correctional Services are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.














