John E. Cross, City Marshal

City of Geary

On Monday night, July 6, 1903, Marshal Cross, 40, was riding home to his wife and six children. He never made it home. His body was found early the next morning in a wheatfield. He had been shot in the stomach and groin. A farmer who lived close by told of hearing three shots about 10:30 P.M. but thought nothing of it in that area. He also mentioned that three men had been camped nearby but were gone that morning. The Marshal’s gun, silver watch and badge were missing. Suspicion soon centered on two fugitive brothers, Will and Sam Martin. The Martin’s were killed a month later in a shootout with other officers and Marshal Cross’s badge and watch were found in their possession.