William S. Gordon

Lieutenant

Norwich

End of Watch: 7/7/1881

Download PDF | Listen Now  |  Leave a Tribute

Lt. Gordon, a 15-year veteran of the police force, succumbed to his injuries after a fierce battle with a prisoner escaping from a cell at police headquarters.

Lt. William S. Gordon, a 15-year veteran of the police force, succumbed on July 7th, 1881, two months after he had been injured in a fierce battle with a prisoner escaping from a cell at police headquarters. The prisoner struck Lt. Gordon on the head with a cuspidor during what was described as a "fearful two and one-half hour struggle." The prisoner escaped and the injuries sustained by the Lieutenant later proved fatal.

An intensive investigation and search was made by the police department. It was headed by Captain Wm. E. Whaley and resulted in the capture and arrest of the escaped prisoner, Michael "Mickey Miner" Minnehan, nearly four months after the assault and escape. He was arrested in Trenton, New Jersey and brought back to Norwich to stand trial by Captain Whaley.