In the quiet town of Greenfield, Massachusetts, the summer of 1910 was shattered by an act of violence that would leave a lasting scar on the community. On Sunday, June 12th, Deputy Sheriff Emmet Haskins, a 56-year-old man, met a tragic and untimely end. A veteran of the Franklin County Sheriff's Office for seventeen years, Haskins was a familiar and respected figure in the area.
The day of his death, Deputy Haskins was on official duty, attempting to arrest a man at his home on an
assault charge. As he proceeded with the arrest, the suspect, who harbored a deep-seated grudge against Haskins from a previous encounter, opened fire. A single gunshot to the chest, at the top of the breastbone, struck the deputy, who succumbed to the wound within moments. Following the shooting, the suspect defiantly warned away the posse that had accompanied Haskins, threatening further violence before disappearing into the dense woods of the nearby Monroe Mountains.
The murder of Deputy Haskins sparked a massive manhunt. For three days, law enforcement, aided by the Massachusetts State Militia, scoured the rugged terrain in pursuit of the fugitive. The determined search eventually led to the capture of the suspect on June 15th. Brought to justice, the man was ultimately convicted of first-degree murder. His fate was sealed on January 26, 1912, when he was executed at the Massachusetts State Prison in Charlestown. Emmet Haskins, a dedicated public servant, was survived by his wife and four children, his life cut short in the line of duty.
