In the crisp autumn air of November 2, 1909, a dedicated lawman, 38-year-old White / Caucasian male Patrick J. Hatton, who served as the Town Marshal, found his life tragically cut short on a roadway seven miles east of Carroll, Iowa. Alongside a county sheriff's deputy, Marshal Hatton had established a lookout point near Glidden, intent on apprehending a pair of suspects wanted for burglary. As the early morning light began to break, their vigil proved fruitful when they spotted the two men.
With their weapons drawn, the two officers approached the suspects. The situation escalated quickly when one of the men broke into a run. Marshal Hatton discharged his firearm several times at the fleeing suspect. The sudden crack of the gunshots startled the horses attached to the deputy's buggy. The spooked animals caused the deputy to lose control, preventing him from providing cover for Marshal Hatton. In that chaotic moment, the second suspect seized the opportunity, pulling out a. 38 caliber revolver.
Before Marshal Hatton could react, the suspect fired, striking him in the face. The fatal shot ended the marshal's life, and both suspects fled the scene. Their freedom, however, was short-lived. A posse was quickly formed and tracked the men to a nearby farm. In the ensuing confrontation, both suspects were shot, wounded, and taken into custody.
The man responsible for firing the fatal shot was subsequently convicted of first-degree murder. He received a sentence of life in prison for his crime. After serving 42 years of his sentence, he was granted parole in 1952. Marshal Hatton, a devoted public servant, was survived by his wife and three daughters, leaving behind a family and a community to mourn his untimely death in the line of duty.
