Deputy U.S. Marshal John Carleton

John Carleton

Deputy U.S. Marshal John Carleton of the Western District of Arkansas and three possemen were on the trail for several weeks serving warrants in the southern part of the Indian Territory. The lawmen decided to serve one more warrant in Denison, Texas before returning to Fort Smith, Arkansas. They secured their nine prisoners in the local jail and started looking for John Hogan who was wanted for selling whiskey in the Indian Territory. Carleton sent two deputies to watch a local saloon while he and another deputy, Lawrence, went to see a woman friend of Hogan’s. Carleton saw Hogan inside the house. He drew his pistol and entered the house yelling that he was a federal officer. Carleton was shot in his side. Carleton fired four times but missed. He was transported to a local home and treated by doctors. Carleton died at 6:30 p.m. after telling doctors to tell his wife he “died happy.” Carleton’s body was shipped to Hackett, Arkansas.

On November 6, lawmen in Fort Worth located Hogan hiding in a railroad car and arrested him. Hogan was convicted and sentenced to life in prison.

Deputy Marshal Carleton had served in the First Texas Confederate Infantry during the Civil War and the U.S. Secret Service prior to his service as a deputy U.S. Marshal. He was survived by his wife.