Officer Clark Irven was beaten by a man he had arrested and was escorting to city jail.

On October 18, 1889, Officer Irven was investigating a domestic disturbance involving the suspect and his wife. Officer Irven placed the suspect under arrest. The suspect continued to resisist causing Officer Irven to drag him down alleyways to the jail and a citizen, J.P. Wolf, who accompanied Officer Irven to give aid, concerned that the suspect would overpower him. Just outside of the jail, Officer Irven asked Mr. Wolf to open the door with a key. As Wolf opened the door, the suspect grabbed a sandbag and struck Officer Irven repeatedly. Mr. Wolf turned to see Officer Irven on the ground and the suspect fleeing on foot. Officer Irven sustained a concussion and chest injuries from the assault and died an hour later from his injuries.

The suspect, Gillison Shelton, was arrested by Marshal Furlon ten or fifteen minutes after the attack. Shelton was convicted of Officer Irven's murder and sentenced to 99 years in prison. He was pardoned by Governor Dockery in 1903.

Officer Irven was survived by his wife, Martha Elizabeth, mother, and six children. Interred: Forest Grove Cemetery, Canton, Missouri.