JT

Jonas Thatcher

1886

Jonas P. Thatcher.

How He Died
Manner Homicide
Cause Gunshot wound
Mechanism Firearm
What Happened
Chief of Police Jonas Thatcher was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man who had failed to appear before a justice to face accusations of an assault.

Chief Thatcher went to the man's home to serve the arrest warrant but was confronted by the man's wife. The woman became belligerent and threw a hatchet at Chief Thatcher, who then attempted to place her under arrest. As the woman struggled with him the husband appeared with a double-barreled shotgun and told the chief to let her go.

When Chief Thatcher refused to let her go the man shot him in the chest, killing him almost instantly. The man fled but was apprehended quickly. He was convicted of Chief Thatcher's murder and sentenced to seven years in prison.

Chief Thatcher was survived by his wife and eleven children. He was a Civil War Veteran who served as a sergeant in the 10th Ohio Calvary, Company C.
Survivors
Chief Thatcher was survived by his wife and eleven children.
Service Record
Also Served
Moundsville Police Department
Chief of Police
In Our Keeping
Permanent identifier neuraspine_01krbxtq3em7jw795d090skaeb
Record added August 2, 2026 neuraweb.nw
Stewarded by neuraweb.nw
Last updated August 2, 2026

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