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Incident Details

Cause of Death:
Gunfire
Date/Time of Incident:
Thursday, July 16, 1936
Incident to Death Duration:
Same day
Incident Location:
Cherry and Water streets, Terre Haute
Incident County:
Vigo
Incident Township:
Harrison
Weapon Used:
Revolver
Suspect Disposition:
• Executed in 1938
• Sentenced to 5 to 21 years

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Vigo County Sheriff's Department

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Chief Deputy Joseph Paul Mankin

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Chief Deputy
Joseph Paul Mankin
Vigo County Sheriff's Department
Thursday, July 16, 1936

Panel 45W, Line 14
Panel L25, Line 4

   Chief Deputy Paul Mankin was shot and killed when he and other officers attempted to arrest two suspects.

   Both of the men had just robbed a woman of 55 cents and attempted to attack her near the Wabash River Bridge. As Chief Deputy Mankin exited his patrol car to approach the suspects one of them stepped back and shot three times, striking Chief Deputy Mankin in the chest, killing him instantly.

   A 35-year-old suspect was arrested at the scene and he was subsequently sentenced to 5 to 21 years in prison for armed robbery and assault.

   The 28-year-old shooter fled the scene and was later apprehended in Paris, Illinois. He was found guilty by a jury of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. On January 14, 1938, he was executed by electrocution at the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City.

   Chief Deputy Mankin, from Terre Haute, was survived by his wife and two sons.

Military Service


United States Army
World War I
Sergeant (SGT) ▪ 1917–1919


Personal Details

Age: 46
Law Enforcement Service:
4 years
Burial Place:
Bethesda Cemetery, West Terre Haute