End of Watch: 11/15/1901
Agency: Cosmopolis Marshal's Office
County: Grays Harbor County
On Friday, November 15, 1901 Cosmopolis Marshal Silas Smith was shot and killed while attempting to serve a warrant on a man over a dispute involving a house.
Marshal Smith and the Aberdeen marshal attempted to arrest the man as he was in the process of razing it. After initially being cooperative, the man suddenly began to resist arrest. He insisted he was permitted to be armed because he was a U.S. letter carrier and pulled away from the arresting officers. He produced a .32-caliber handgun and exchanged shots with the two marshals.
The suspect struck Marshal Smith in the chest and he died instantly. He also struck the other marshal and was himself wounded. After both the marshal and suspect ran out of ammunition, the Aberdeen marshal struck the suspect in the head with his pistol, knocking him unconscious. Both wounded men were taken to a hospital. The suspect was then transferred to jail.
Marshal Smith was survived by his wife, son, and daughter.