Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-06-17
Milwaukee, June Is.

Milwaukee, June 10.
United States Deputy Marshal Will
liam Buckley Of Milwaukee committed
suicide Monday forenoon in the cream
city by shooting. Buckley was at one
time a well known citizen OF Madison
and was brOther-in-law of Pierce
Purcell, having married a sister of
Mrs. Purcell. The latter or recent of
the news took the FIRST train for Mil
Waukee.
Buckley came to Madison in 1856
from New York in company with Mr..
Purcell. For a year he worked at the
old United States hotel. Then he be-
came turnkey at the county jaiI.
Later he was appointed jailer, then
unGersheritf, then deputy marshal, and
policeman, being employed in these va
rIous capacities until his removal to
Milwaukee 10 years ago. While in
Madison he built the house at 1927 West
Washington avenue and lived there
many years. He was most efficient
o1hCer and for the past 40 years al
most his entire life was spent in the
capture and handling of criminals One
thrilling episode in his career was
the capture of two Iowa horsethieves
IN the Union house east of the citv
many years ago. Buckley learned that
the thieves were secreted in the build
ing and with two men went to arrest
them. Posting his pickets as sentinels
ne broke in the door W hich had been
barred and went boldly up stairs alone
A fight ensued between him and the
th1eVes, che of whom clinched with
Buckley and drawing a revolver at
tempted to shoot the officer. Buckley
managed TO turn the weapon, however.
ana when 1t exploded the bullet en-
tered the body of the thief who died
III the jail shortly after his arrest.
His suicide caused d sensation. Over
WORK and irregular hours, resulting in
temporary Insanity, are generally oe-
heVed to be the causes Of the act.
For week or ten days, it is said. he
mad had little or no sleep and could eat
Ilttle food. He leaves d wife, son and
three daughters.
Mr.. Bucldeys son. Fred. J, Buckley
conducts drug store in Milwaukee,
Cne daughter, Miss Eta Buckley, is a
slehoSraphcr in the employ of the
Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance.
company. Miss Fannie Buckley is a
student at the Spencerian Business
college. The other daughter is Miss
Catherine Buckley,
Mr.. Buckley is described by his as
socIates as a man of exceptional fit
ness Tor the position of deputy mar
shat. Il have known William Buckley
Tor many ears, said Julius Iasche Of
the health department of Milwaukee,
i knew him when he went to the
war back in '61, under call for three
months enlistments. Since that time
MIR. Buckley had had a remarkable
record in this respect. He had never
days service in public Of
fee. He has always been employed in
one branch or another of the service.
He was one Of the most faithful work
ers | nave ever seen; that is, he was
faithful TO his superior officer, he was
absolutely fearless, and he never hes
ltated to take into custody the most
desperate character with whom he
might be called upon to zeal in his
official capacity.
During the existence of the fee sys-
TEN, recently abolished, Mr.. Buckley
was valuable assistant of the United
States marshal, for he would go any
where under any circumstances to
make an arrest. He made many ar
rests during his long service"
The suicide of Mr. Buckley occa-
SlCned much surprise among his many
friends. Mr.. Buckley did not have the.
disposition of man who would natur-
ally resort to suicide. He had been
industrious and had accumulated con-
siderable property.
Mr.. Buckley was during the war in
the three months service as sergeant
IN the first Wisconsin infantry. After
returning from the war to Madison,
he was appointed deputy marshal in
1861. Subsequently he held office con-
tinucusly as a police officer, deputy
sheriff and deputy United States mar
shall until 1875. In that year, upon
the recommendation of some Of his
friends. Capt. Irving NJ. Bean, who had
Just been appointed collector of in
teTEal revenue for the Milwaukee dis
trict, appointed Mr.. Buckley to the po-
9itiOn of outside deputy. He served
as a subordinate deputy until 1885, at
which time Capt Bean surrendered the
office to his democratic successors. In
1856 Mr.. Buckley was appointed a
deputy sheriff under Sheriff George
Peschen, with whom he served until
ne was made deputy United States
MARSHAL by Gen. Hamilton at Milwau-
zee, which position he held at the time
Of his death.