Sheriff John Henry Dillingham
Date of Incident: 20 Aug 1900
Death Location: MO
Department: Platte Co Sheriff's Department
Department State: MO
End of Watch Date: 20 Aug 1900
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Weapon: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect: Shot and killed
Notes:
Sheriff Dillingham was shot and killed near Farley, MO after pursuing a suspect who had gone on a shooting spree. The man had murdered his wife, mother-in-law, and had shot at patrons of a store. After shooting Sheriff Dillingham, the man was shot and killed by the Sheriff's son. The suspect was a doctor who was abusing a pain killer.
s/o Elihu Park Dillingham (b.16 Apr 1830, Madison Co KY; d.1 Sep 1916, Platte Co MO.) and Mary Jane White (b. 25 Oct 1835 Estill Co KY d.21 Dec 1899 Platte Co MO)
h/o Anna Lea Oldham 1856-1891
from jrsanders.com/mad-doctor:
On this date in 1900, Sheriff John Henry Dillingham of Platte County, Missouri, was summoned to the sleepy little town of Farley over a case of multiple murder. A local physician named Sterling Price “Sturley” Harrington had gone on a day-long, drug and alcohol fueled killing spree. Taking his ten-year-old daughter along on his bloody errands, the doctor shot and killed his mother-in-law in cold blood, then calmly drove to the home of his wife’s uncle and killed him as well. He drove across the state line into Leavenworth, Kansas, where – apparently with further killing in mind – he resupplied with ammunition and more weapons before returning to Farley.Dillingham - El Paso Daily Herald 8-20-1900
In what was likely part of an addle-brained plan to escape, Harrington tried to rob the town’s general store, and engaged in a point-blank shootout with the store’s clerk. About this time Sheriff Dillingham arrived with a trio of deputies, one of whom was his son, Henry. As the lawmen approached the store, Harrington met the sheriff at the entrance. Shots were exchanged and Sheriff Dillingham was killed instantly. As the murderous doctor fled toward his wagon, Henry Dillingham fired three times and Harrington fell dead in the street.
Twenty-two year old Henry Dillingham was appointed to finish out his father’s term as sheriff. Thirty years later he would also serve as the United States Marshal for the Western District of Missouri
Sheriff John Dillingham’s eventful career, and the tragic events leading up to his death, are detailed in Chapter 8 of Some Gave All.
Date of Incident: 20 Aug 1900
Death Location: MO
Department: Platte Co Sheriff's Department
Department State: MO
End of Watch Date: 20 Aug 1900
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Weapon: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect: Shot and killed
Notes:
Sheriff Dillingham was shot and killed near Farley, MO after pursuing a suspect who had gone on a shooting spree. The man had murdered his wife, mother-in-law, and had shot at patrons of a store. After shooting Sheriff Dillingham, the man was shot and killed by the Sheriff's son. The suspect was a doctor who was abusing a pain killer.
s/o Elihu Park Dillingham (b.16 Apr 1830, Madison Co KY; d.1 Sep 1916, Platte Co MO.) and Mary Jane White (b. 25 Oct 1835 Estill Co KY d.21 Dec 1899 Platte Co MO)
h/o Anna Lea Oldham 1856-1891
from jrsanders.com/mad-doctor:
On this date in 1900, Sheriff John Henry Dillingham of Platte County, Missouri, was summoned to the sleepy little town of Farley over a case of multiple murder. A local physician named Sterling Price “Sturley” Harrington had gone on a day-long, drug and alcohol fueled killing spree. Taking his ten-year-old daughter along on his bloody errands, the doctor shot and killed his mother-in-law in cold blood, then calmly drove to the home of his wife’s uncle and killed him as well. He drove across the state line into Leavenworth, Kansas, where – apparently with further killing in mind – he resupplied with ammunition and more weapons before returning to Farley.Dillingham - El Paso Daily Herald 8-20-1900
In what was likely part of an addle-brained plan to escape, Harrington tried to rob the town’s general store, and engaged in a point-blank shootout with the store’s clerk. About this time Sheriff Dillingham arrived with a trio of deputies, one of whom was his son, Henry. As the lawmen approached the store, Harrington met the sheriff at the entrance. Shots were exchanged and Sheriff Dillingham was killed instantly. As the murderous doctor fled toward his wagon, Henry Dillingham fired three times and Harrington fell dead in the street.
Twenty-two year old Henry Dillingham was appointed to finish out his father’s term as sheriff. Thirty years later he would also serve as the United States Marshal for the Western District of Missouri
Sheriff John Dillingham’s eventful career, and the tragic events leading up to his death, are detailed in Chapter 8 of Some Gave All.
Sheriff John Henry Dillingham
Date of Incident: 20 Aug 1900
Death Location: MO
Department: Platte Co Sheriff's Department
Department State: MO
End of Watch Date: 20 Aug 1900
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Weapon: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect: Shot and killed
Notes:
Sheriff Dillingham was shot and killed near Farley, MO after pursuing a suspect who had gone on a shooting spree. The man had murdered his wife, mother-in-law, and had shot at patrons of a store. After shooting Sheriff Dillingham, the man was shot and killed by the Sheriff's son. The suspect was a doctor who was abusing a pain killer.
s/o Elihu Park Dillingham (b.16 Apr 1830, Madison Co KY; d.1 Sep 1916, Platte Co MO.) and Mary Jane White (b. 25 Oct 1835 Estill Co KY d.21 Dec 1899 Platte Co MO)
h/o Anna Lea Oldham 1856-1891
from jrsanders.com/mad-doctor:
On this date in 1900, Sheriff John Henry Dillingham of Platte County, Missouri, was summoned to the sleepy little town of Farley over a case of multiple murder. A local physician named Sterling Price “Sturley” Harrington had gone on a day-long, drug and alcohol fueled killing spree. Taking his ten-year-old daughter along on his bloody errands, the doctor shot and killed his mother-in-law in cold blood, then calmly drove to the home of his wife’s uncle and killed him as well. He drove across the state line into Leavenworth, Kansas, where – apparently with further killing in mind – he resupplied with ammunition and more weapons before returning to Farley.Dillingham - El Paso Daily Herald 8-20-1900
In what was likely part of an addle-brained plan to escape, Harrington tried to rob the town’s general store, and engaged in a point-blank shootout with the store’s clerk. About this time Sheriff Dillingham arrived with a trio of deputies, one of whom was his son, Henry. As the lawmen approached the store, Harrington met the sheriff at the entrance. Shots were exchanged and Sheriff Dillingham was killed instantly. As the murderous doctor fled toward his wagon, Henry Dillingham fired three times and Harrington fell dead in the street.
Twenty-two year old Henry Dillingham was appointed to finish out his father’s term as sheriff. Thirty years later he would also serve as the United States Marshal for the Western District of Missouri
Sheriff John Dillingham’s eventful career, and the tragic events leading up to his death, are detailed in Chapter 8 of Some Gave All.
Date of Incident: 20 Aug 1900
Death Location: MO
Department: Platte Co Sheriff's Department
Department State: MO
End of Watch Date: 20 Aug 1900
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Weapon: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect: Shot and killed
Notes:
Sheriff Dillingham was shot and killed near Farley, MO after pursuing a suspect who had gone on a shooting spree. The man had murdered his wife, mother-in-law, and had shot at patrons of a store. After shooting Sheriff Dillingham, the man was shot and killed by the Sheriff's son. The suspect was a doctor who was abusing a pain killer.
s/o Elihu Park Dillingham (b.16 Apr 1830, Madison Co KY; d.1 Sep 1916, Platte Co MO.) and Mary Jane White (b. 25 Oct 1835 Estill Co KY d.21 Dec 1899 Platte Co MO)
h/o Anna Lea Oldham 1856-1891
from jrsanders.com/mad-doctor:
On this date in 1900, Sheriff John Henry Dillingham of Platte County, Missouri, was summoned to the sleepy little town of Farley over a case of multiple murder. A local physician named Sterling Price “Sturley” Harrington had gone on a day-long, drug and alcohol fueled killing spree. Taking his ten-year-old daughter along on his bloody errands, the doctor shot and killed his mother-in-law in cold blood, then calmly drove to the home of his wife’s uncle and killed him as well. He drove across the state line into Leavenworth, Kansas, where – apparently with further killing in mind – he resupplied with ammunition and more weapons before returning to Farley.Dillingham - El Paso Daily Herald 8-20-1900
In what was likely part of an addle-brained plan to escape, Harrington tried to rob the town’s general store, and engaged in a point-blank shootout with the store’s clerk. About this time Sheriff Dillingham arrived with a trio of deputies, one of whom was his son, Henry. As the lawmen approached the store, Harrington met the sheriff at the entrance. Shots were exchanged and Sheriff Dillingham was killed instantly. As the murderous doctor fled toward his wagon, Henry Dillingham fired three times and Harrington fell dead in the street.
Twenty-two year old Henry Dillingham was appointed to finish out his father’s term as sheriff. Thirty years later he would also serve as the United States Marshal for the Western District of Missouri
Sheriff John Dillingham’s eventful career, and the tragic events leading up to his death, are detailed in Chapter 8 of Some Gave All.
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