Sheriff William Gresham

Sheriff William Gresham was stabbed to death while attempting to serve an arrest warrant upon a subject.

The subject had become enraged and disorderly after learning a whipping had been administered to his younger brother by a local school teacher in Blue River Township. When a local constable was unable to serve an arrest warrant that had been issued, Sheriff Gresham was summoned. While attempting to take the young man into custody, Sheriff Gresham was stabbed several times with a knife and died immediately.

The suspect was arrested and convicted of manslaughter. In April 1835, he was sentenced to 21 years in prison and fined $1,000. The governor pardoned him in 1840 and remitted the fine.

Sheriff Gresham had served with the Harrison County Sheriff's Department for one year and was in his first term as sheriff. He was survived by his wife, three sons, two daughters and by his mother.

Incident Date: January 26, 1834

EOW: January 26, 1834