In the small town of Cannelton, Indiana, a dispute over civic duty on Election Day in 1900 would culminate in the tragic death of a lawman. City Marshal Joseph Fishback, a 38-year-old man, was a respected figure in his community, having served for nearly two years. On Tuesday, November 6, 1900, an argument erupted when a man became aggressive towards Marshal Fishback's brother, who had chosen not to vote. The angered citizen escalated the confrontation by threatening Fishback's brother before leaving to retrieve a revolver.
Alerted to the escalating situation, Marshal Fishback located the armed man on Seventh Street in Cannelton. As the Marshal attempted to arrest him for disturbing the peace, the man resisted and a struggle ensued. In the ensuing chaos, the suspect drew his weapon and fired, shooting Marshal Fishback twice in the abdomen. The gravely wounded lawman was taken back to his residence.
For two days, Marshal Fishback fought for his life, but his injuries proved to be fatal. He succumbed to his wounds, leaving behind a wife, four sons, and two daughters. The suspect, a 22-year-old man, was apprehended and subsequently charged with murder. Following a trial, a jury convicted him of the lesser charge of manslaughter. He was sentenced to a term of 2 to 21 years in prison for the killing of City Marshal Joseph Fishback.
