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Police Officer Benjamin Benton - Baltimore Police History
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Monday, 01 July 2013 03:10

Police Officer Benjamin Benton

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News reports would write - A Police Officer is Shot Dead - The Western Quarter of the city on Wednesday night was the scene of an affray, (a scuffle) the result of which was the instant killing of police officer Benjamin Benton, of the Western District, by a single shot from a pistol in the hands of a man named Henry Gambrill, (Henry Gambrill was the keeper of a public house on Franklin street, near Howard street.) It appears that a dance or some other kind of amusement was going on in the house on Biddle street, near Pennsylvania avenue. A number of disorderly characters were among those present, and about 11:30PM officer Burke, of that beat, apprehending a disturbance, gave the usual “Double Rap” for assistance, (Note; the “double rap” refers to striking an officers baton (Espantoon) against any solid building, downspout or cobblestone street to summons other officers in the area to come help him

Fallen Heroes 72 gallery 2 gallery

Benjamin Benton

On this day in Baltimore City Police History 22 Sept 1858 we lost our Brother Police Officer Benjamin Benton to gunfire based on the following:

News reports would write - A Police Officer is Shot Dead - The Western Quarter of the city on Wednesday night was the scene of an affray, (a scuffle) the result of which was the instant killing of police officer Benjamin Benton, of the Western District, by a single shot from a pistol in the hands of a man named Henry Gambrill, (Henry Gambrill was the keeper of a public house on Franklin street, near Howard street.) It appears that a dance or some other kind of amusement was going on in the house on Biddle street, near Pennsylvania avenue. A number of disorderly characters were among those present, and about 11:30PM officer Burke, of that beat, apprehending a disturbance, gave the usual “Double Rap” for assistance, (Note; the “double rap” refers to striking an officers baton (Espantoon) against any solid building, downspout or cobblestone street to summons other officers in the area to come help him – (Basically the “Double Rap” was 1858’s version of a 10-16 just a step above a sig 13) Burk was joined by his brother “Officers Benton”, (the deceased) Rigdon, and Brown, who seized two of the party – “David Houck and John Isenhart” – at the request of the proprietor of the house, and attempted to take them to the station-house. Benton and Rigdon had hold of Houck, and while struggling with him, Gambrill interfered, and after threatening to knock Benton down, stepped back several paces, leveling a revolver within three feet of Benton’s head, fired. The ball entered immediately back of the left ear, and passing entirely through the neck, came out at the right ear, almost in line with its entrance. Benton released hold on Houck, and fell dead, the ball having severed the spinal cord and cut the base of the brain away. - Gambrill escaped, but was afterwards arrested by Captain Linaweaver, and locked up with Houck and Isenhart at the western on Pine Street station…

The investigation was concluded at about three o’clock yesterday morning, when the jury rendered the verdict that the deceased, Benjamin Benton, came to his death from a ball fired from a pistol in the hands of Henry Gambrill, who was immediately committed to jail by Justice Logan for the action of the grand jury… Mr. Benton was connected with the police department for eight years past and was retained through several administrations, which intervened on the account of his excellent qualities as an officer. He was about 45 years of age, and leaves a wife and five children. The Widow of Officer Benton. - The first branch of the council last evening adopted a resolution to pay the widow of police officer Benjamin Benton, killed on Wednesday night in the discharge of his duty, $520, or one year’s salary. Note; Mr. Gambrill was sentenced “to be hanged by the neck until he be dead.”

As his brothers and sisters of the Baltimore Police Department we will not let him be forgotten. His service Honored the City of Baltimore, and the Police Department. RIP Officer Benjamin Benton

More Details

NameDescription
End of Watch 22 September, 1858
City, St. Franklin street, near Howard street
Panel Number 35-E: 21
Cause of Death Gunfire
Weapon - Handgun
District Worked Western

deviders our fallen

Again please contact Ret. Det. Kenny Driscoll if you have pictures of you, your family, or other members of the Baltimore Police Department and wish to see them remembered here on this tribute site. We are anxious to honor the fine men and women who have served this fine police department. Ret. Det. Kenny Driscoll can be reached at  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - Like us on Facebook, or mail pics to us at 8138 Dundalk Ave. Baltimore Md. 21222 

Copyright © 2002 Baltimore City Police History - Ret Det Kenny Driscoll

 

 

 

Read 4235 times Last modified on Wednesday, 22 January 2020 07:52
Baltimore Police Historical Soicety

The Baltimore Police Historical Society put this and other articles on this website together using research from old newspapers, old books, photos, and artifacts.

We rely more heavily on books written at or near the time of the incident we are researching or writing about. We do not put too much weight on the more recently written history books, or books that have been written with a biased opinion or agenda.

We try not to tell our readers what to think about our past as much as we tell a story with hopes of our readers forming their own opinions. That said, ever so often we come across a story that to us is so exciting that we might express that in our writings. but we hope our readers will form their own opinions based on the information written at the time, not information that was added years later using a filtered history that has been twisted and pulled in the direction of various storytellers that may or may not have had their own agendas.

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