In the late summer of 1909 in Huron, South Dakota, a dedicated police officer named Clifford Amos Hawley, a 25-year-old male, tragically lost his life in the line of duty. On Tuesday, September 7, 1909, what began as a routine effort to maintain peace took a fatal turn.
Policeman Hawley responded to a confrontation between two men described at the time as hobos. As he intervened to break up the fight, one of the individuals unexpectedly produced a concealed pistol.
Without warning, the man fired at Hawley, inflicting a mortal wound. The sudden violence cut short the life of the young officer.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, the suspect fled the scene. A large posse was quickly formed to hunt for the man responsible for Officer Hawley's death. Despite their determined efforts to scour the area and bring the killer to justice, the search proved fruitless. The suspect managed to evade capture, leaving a permanent void in the community and a case that would remain unsolved. The body of the murdered officer was later transported to Howard for burial.
