Deputy U.S. Marshal

Russell Wireman

Felonious
End of Watch March 26, 1889
Age 32
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
The Vigil Panel 10 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Marshal Russell Wireman was shot and killed as he and a posse attempted to arrest a group of men for moonshining in Knott County, Kentucky.

As the posse rode up to the men, the group fled into a nearby apple orchard at Cross Fork of the Kentucky River in Knox County. After a brief standoff, shots were exchanged, and Marshal Wireman was shot and killed. The remainder of the posse retreated to safety while the suspects all fled.

The two brothers who were believed to have shot Deputy Wireman eventually fled to Indian Territory. One of the brothers was arrested in 1894, convicted of conspiracy to prevent a United States Marshal from the discharge of his duties, and sentenced to life in prison. In 1901, he was pardoned by President McKinley. The other brother was never arrested.

Deputy Marshal Wireman had served with the United States Marshals Service for three years.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
September 9, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

137 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Wireman gave the United States Department of Justice 3 years.
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 March 26, 1889
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
Age 32
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Gun; Unknown type

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Russell 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 1889, 46 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 142nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Russell was 32. 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. Russell had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

March holds 7.5% 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; unknown type, in 9.5% 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, Russell among them.

Across the years

Deputy U.S. Marshal Russell Wireman

United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service · End of Watch March 26, 1889

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 30-E

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