Headstone of William Hulligan

William Hulligan

1887

William Hulligan.

How He Died
Manner Homicide
Cause Gunshot wound
Mechanism Blunt force
What Happened
Detective William Hulligan was killed after being struck on the head with a coupling pin by one of three members of the Blinky Morgan Gang as they were attempting to free a fourth gang member. He and another officer were extraditing the prisoner from Pittsburgh and were aboard a train when the incident occurred at a train station in Ravenna, Ohio. The other officer was seriously injured but recovered. On June 27, 1887, the suspects were cornered in Alpena County, Michigan. The gang leader who murdered Detective Hulligan shot and killed Sheriff Charles Lynch of the Alpena County, Michigan, Sheriff's Department. The sheriff died from his wounds on August 17, 1887. Three including their leader were apprehended. One, who was freed from the train, was never apprehended. The leader was convicted of murder and hanged in Ohio on August 3, 1888. The other two were sent to prison but received new trials and were released. Detective Hulligan was a Civil War Veteran who entered the war at the age of 15 as a private with the 24th New York Calvary, Company K and served with the Cleveland Division of Police for 14 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and five children.
William Hulligan
William Hulligan
Service Record
Also Served
Cleveland Division of Police
Detective
In Our Keeping
Permanent identifier neuraspine_01krbxtn0etbz5gf3a4s5qb87q
Record added August 2, 2026 neuraweb.nw
Stewarded by neuraweb.nw
Last updated August 2, 2026

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