On a December day in 1892, Deputy Sheriff Henry Barganier of the Butler County Sheriff's Department was involved in a fatal confrontation while attempting to apprehend a wanted man. Accompanied by a posse, Deputy Barganier proceeded to a boarding house where the suspect was reportedly located.
Upon entering the man's room, Deputy Barganier was met with a blast from a shotgun, striking him in the face. The sudden and violent attack left no time for a defensive response. In the immediate aftermath, another member of the posse discharged his weapon in the direction of the fleeing suspect, but the shots did not find their mark.
The gunman managed to escape the scene and successfully evaded capture. Despite the efforts of law enforcement, the individual responsible for Deputy Sheriff Henry Barganier's death was never apprehended. At the time of his murder, Deputy Barganier's brother was serving as the sheriff of Butler County. He was survived by his wife and three children.
