Andrew King
Agency: Fishing River Township Constable's Office, Missouri
Constable King was born in Excelsior Springs and served in law enforcement for approximately 10 years. With the exception of a few years spent in Iowa and Kansas, he had always lived in the county. He was survived by his wife, Martha, son, Omer, two daughters, Viola and Esther, and five siblings. Among his surviving family members were James King, sheriff of Henry County and his son, Omer, who was a Clay County deputy at the time, was appointed to the position of constable after his death.
Constable King died shortly after suffering a head injury while struggling with a prisoner in the city jail at Excelsior Springs. Constable King and Night Policeman Joe Roberts were attempting to put the prisoner into a cell as the man violently resisted. During the ensuing struggle, Constable King's head was struck against the iron bars of the cell before the two officers finally succeeded in placing the prisoner into the cell.
Following the incident, Constable King began to feel sick after walking home. A doctor was called to the house and shortly after he arrived, Constable King began having convulsions. He died a short time later from a cerebral hemorrhage caused by the head wound on July 2, 1911 at the age of 56.
The suspect, Joe Gannon, was found to be insane and taken to the state asylum in St. Joseph, Missouri.
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