Vernon Coke Wilson
Agency patch
Deputy U.S. Marshal

Vernon Coke Wilson

Felonious
End of Watch September 13, 1892
Age 35
The Vigil Panel 11 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Marshal Vernon Wilson and Deputy Marshal Andrew W. McGennis were shot and killed in Fresno County, California, while they attempted to arrest two suspects wanted for the murder of Tulare County, California, Deputy Oscar Beaver one month earlier. The suspects were Chris Evans and John Sontag, notorious California train robbers. A little less than a year later, Sontag was killed and Evans was apprehended after a gun battle with a posse. Evans lost an eye and his right hand in the fight. Chris Evans was sentenced to life in Folsom Prison. He was paroled in 1912. Deputy Marshal Wilson is buried at Court Street Cemetery in Tuscon, Arizona.

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

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Tributes

134 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 13, 1892
Age 35
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Vernon 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 1892, 81 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 82nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Vernon was 35. 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.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

September holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

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.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years

Deputy U.S. Marshal Vernon Coke Wilson

United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service · End of Watch September 13, 1892

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 48-W

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