IN MEMORIAM
Deputy Marshal
John P. Willis
Taney County Sheriff's Dept
EOW: Wednesday, Dec 4, 1889
Age:
DOB: 1851
Tour of Duty:
Badge: #
Cause: Gunfire
Suspect:
Memorial Location
Panel:
7
Row:
9
Column:
6

Deputy U.S. Marshal John Willis was shot and killed attempting to serve a warrant. Deputy Willis was arrested by Butler City Marshal J.H. Morgan preventing him from serving papers on another person. After his release Deputy Willis traveled to Kansas City and obtained a warrant for the Marshal. Deputy Willis traveled to Butler accompanied by Samuel S. Price and woke the Marshal from his bed at around midnight, advised him he was under arrest and pulled him out on to the porch. There was a struggle and both men fired their pistols resulting in both men being shot in the bowels. The Marshal fell and died from his injuries at the scene. Deputy Willis walked a short distance and fell. He was taken to a doctor's office where he died at 4:00 am the next morning.

Deputy Marshal Willis was appointed a US Marshal in 1885. He was survived by his wife, Eliza, and three children. Interred: Oak Hill Cemetery.

Missouri Law Enforcement Memorial