On April 27, 1892, Sheppard Busby, an ex-deputy marshal, was hanged for the murder of Deputy Marshal Barney Connelly. Busby shot and killed the officer as he tried to arrest him for adultery.
Appears to have served in 56th Illinois Infantry and 50th Missouri in Civil War.
FROM FORT SMITH NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE:
On this day in history – Killed in the Line of Duty
August 19, 1891
Deputy U.S. Marshal Bernard Connelley went to the home of Sheppard Busby (57) near modern day Muldrow, OK. He had an arrest warrant for Busby for adultery. Connelley decided to go alone because he knew Busby and he was a former Deputy U.S. Marshal.
Tennessee Burns (22) mother of two of Sheppard’s children age 5 months and 11 months of age, Florence Jones (15) Sheppard’s fiancé, and William Busby (23) son all lived in the same house with Sheppard Busby. When Connelley arrived to make the arrest there was a shootout and Connelley was killed.
Late on the night of the 19th word arrived in Ft. Smith that Connelley was dead. When others arrived at the Busby home they found Connelley body, William Busby, Tennessee Burns, and Florence Jones were all at the house while Sheppard had fled the scene. William was arrested and week later Sheppard turned himself in saying he was tired of running.
Both men were tried for murder. William was sentenced to 10 years in the Detroit house of Corrections and Sheppard was executed on April 27, 1892. It is believed to be the only time a former Deputy U.S. Marshal was executed for murdering and active U.S. Deputy Marshal.
Buried in the potter's field section of the cemetery, Sheppard Busby is in grave #668. There are few markers in this section.
Appears to have served in 56th Illinois Infantry and 50th Missouri in Civil War.
FROM FORT SMITH NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE:
On this day in history – Killed in the Line of Duty
August 19, 1891
Deputy U.S. Marshal Bernard Connelley went to the home of Sheppard Busby (57) near modern day Muldrow, OK. He had an arrest warrant for Busby for adultery. Connelley decided to go alone because he knew Busby and he was a former Deputy U.S. Marshal.
Tennessee Burns (22) mother of two of Sheppard’s children age 5 months and 11 months of age, Florence Jones (15) Sheppard’s fiancé, and William Busby (23) son all lived in the same house with Sheppard Busby. When Connelley arrived to make the arrest there was a shootout and Connelley was killed.
Late on the night of the 19th word arrived in Ft. Smith that Connelley was dead. When others arrived at the Busby home they found Connelley body, William Busby, Tennessee Burns, and Florence Jones were all at the house while Sheppard had fled the scene. William was arrested and week later Sheppard turned himself in saying he was tired of running.
Both men were tried for murder. William was sentenced to 10 years in the Detroit house of Corrections and Sheppard was executed on April 27, 1892. It is believed to be the only time a former Deputy U.S. Marshal was executed for murdering and active U.S. Deputy Marshal.
Buried in the potter's field section of the cemetery, Sheppard Busby is in grave #668. There are few markers in this section.
On April 27, 1892, Sheppard Busby, an ex-deputy marshal, was hanged for the murder of Deputy Marshal Barney Connelly. Busby shot and killed the officer as he tried to arrest him for adultery.
Appears to have served in 56th Illinois Infantry and 50th Missouri in Civil War.
FROM FORT SMITH NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE:
On this day in history – Killed in the Line of Duty
August 19, 1891
Deputy U.S. Marshal Bernard Connelley went to the home of Sheppard Busby (57) near modern day Muldrow, OK. He had an arrest warrant for Busby for adultery. Connelley decided to go alone because he knew Busby and he was a former Deputy U.S. Marshal.
Tennessee Burns (22) mother of two of Sheppard’s children age 5 months and 11 months of age, Florence Jones (15) Sheppard’s fiancé, and William Busby (23) son all lived in the same house with Sheppard Busby. When Connelley arrived to make the arrest there was a shootout and Connelley was killed.
Late on the night of the 19th word arrived in Ft. Smith that Connelley was dead. When others arrived at the Busby home they found Connelley body, William Busby, Tennessee Burns, and Florence Jones were all at the house while Sheppard had fled the scene. William was arrested and week later Sheppard turned himself in saying he was tired of running.
Both men were tried for murder. William was sentenced to 10 years in the Detroit house of Corrections and Sheppard was executed on April 27, 1892. It is believed to be the only time a former Deputy U.S. Marshal was executed for murdering and active U.S. Deputy Marshal.
Buried in the potter's field section of the cemetery, Sheppard Busby is in grave #668. There are few markers in this section.
Appears to have served in 56th Illinois Infantry and 50th Missouri in Civil War.
FROM FORT SMITH NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE:
On this day in history – Killed in the Line of Duty
August 19, 1891
Deputy U.S. Marshal Bernard Connelley went to the home of Sheppard Busby (57) near modern day Muldrow, OK. He had an arrest warrant for Busby for adultery. Connelley decided to go alone because he knew Busby and he was a former Deputy U.S. Marshal.
Tennessee Burns (22) mother of two of Sheppard’s children age 5 months and 11 months of age, Florence Jones (15) Sheppard’s fiancé, and William Busby (23) son all lived in the same house with Sheppard Busby. When Connelley arrived to make the arrest there was a shootout and Connelley was killed.
Late on the night of the 19th word arrived in Ft. Smith that Connelley was dead. When others arrived at the Busby home they found Connelley body, William Busby, Tennessee Burns, and Florence Jones were all at the house while Sheppard had fled the scene. William was arrested and week later Sheppard turned himself in saying he was tired of running.
Both men were tried for murder. William was sentenced to 10 years in the Detroit house of Corrections and Sheppard was executed on April 27, 1892. It is believed to be the only time a former Deputy U.S. Marshal was executed for murdering and active U.S. Deputy Marshal.
Buried in the potter's field section of the cemetery, Sheppard Busby is in grave #668. There are few markers in this section.
Gravesite Details
The marker is too modern to have been placed at time of death. Probably placed by friends or family much later still unhappy with his fate.
Family Members
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