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John Donovan

Case from Philadelphia, PA dated Sep 25, 1903

Victim Details

John J. Donovan

Male

White / Caucasian

Philadelphia

PA

1903-09-25

24

John

Donovan

06/21/2026

Case Description

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John J. Donovan, a 24-year-old male police officer of Irish ethnicity, tragically lost his life on September 25, 1903, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Officer Donovan was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a robbery suspect on Market Street near 17th. The suspect, identified as Samuel Archer, attempted to flee but was shot and wounded by other officers before being taken into custody.

The incident occurred during Officer Donovan's relatively short tenure with the Philadelphia Polic ...
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