Officer Fleming was outside a saloon at 3rd and Gillis when he was attacked from behind, knocked to the ground and severely beaten resulting his death.

On the evening of June 22, 1897 at shortly after 6:00 pm, Officer Fleming was standing in front of Mike Delougherty's saloon on the southwest corner of 3rd and Gillis when Dennis Mahaney stepped out of the saloon and knocked Officer Fleming to the ground with a blow behind the right ear. Mahaney then took Officer Fleming's club and began beating him on the head while he kicked him in the face and body. Mike Delougherty and another man, Tom Shields, stood by and discouraged onlookers from intervening in Officer Fleming's behalf. A man on horseback rode to the police station and notified Chief Vallins who responded to the scene with a police surgeon and six officers. Mahaney fled the scene prior to the arrival of police and remained at large. Delougherty was taken into police custody and arraigned for disorderly conduct. Delougherty's saloon was reputed to be frequented by the most desperate men in the city and there was resentment against Fleming's firm rule of the saloon's clientele.

Officer Fleming regained consciousness but died one month later, on at July 25, 1897 at 5:45 pm, at his home at 550 Tracy Avenue from pneumonia contracted as a result of the injuries sustained in the attack. Officer Fleming was previously shot in 1887 while attempting to arrest two highwaymen and had since been in troubled health.

Officer Fleming, 38, born in Ireland, joined the department on May 20, 1887 and served for ten years. He was the son of Dan and Emily Flanagan. He was a widower and was survived by his son Bernard (4) and daughter, Josephine (8). Interred: Mount St. Mary's Cemetery, Kansas City, Missouri.

Article by Brent Marchant