Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1897-06-17
Milwaukee, June Is.

United States Deputy Marshal VIII
,iam Buckley of Milwaukee committed
suicide Monday forenoon in the cream
city by shooting. Buckley was at one
+ine a well known citizen OF Madison
and was a brother-in-law of Pierce
p,.rcell having married a sister of
Mrs Purcell The latter or receipt 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 a turnkey at the county Jail
Later he was appointed jailer, then
urGersheriff, then deputy marshal, and
policeman, being employed in these va
rious capacities until his removal to
Milwaukee 10 years ago. While i'll
Madison he built the house at 1927 West
washington avenue and lived there
many wears He was most efficient
officer and for the past 40 years al
most his entire life was spent in the
canture and handling of criminals. One
thrilling episode in his career was
the capture of two Iowa horsethieves
IN the Union house east of the city,
many wears 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,
he broke in the door W hich had been
barred and went boldly up stairs alone.
fight ensued between him and the
thieves. che of whom clinched with
Buckley. and drawing revolver at
tempted to shoot the officer. Buckley
managed to turn the weapon, however
and when it exploded the bullet en-
tered the body of the thief who died
in the Jail shortly after his arrest.
His suicide caused d sensation. Over
work and irregular hours, resulting in
temporary insanity, are generally pc
Heyed TO be the causes Of the act
For a week or ten days, it is said, he
had had little or no sleep and could eat
little food. He leaves a wife, son and
three daughters
Mr.. Buckley's son, Fred. j. Buckley,
conducts a drug store in Milwaukee.
One daughter, Miss Eta Buckley, is
stenographer in the employ of the
Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance
company Miss Fannie Buckley is
student at the Spenceriaa Business
college. The other daughter is Miss
Catherine Buckley.
Mr. Buckley is described by his as
sOCates as a man of exceptional Mt
ness for the position of deputy mar
shat Il have known William Buckley
for many ears" said julius Iasche Of
the health department of Milwaukee
u knew hin. when he went to the
war back in 81 under call for three
months enlistments. Since that time
Mr. Buckley had had a remarkable
record in this respect He had never
missed a 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 ! have 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-
tenn, 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-
stoned much surprise among his many
friends Mr.. Buckley did not have the
disposition OF a man who would natur-
any resort to suicide. He had been
INDUSTRIOUS and had accumulated con
siderable property.
Mr.. Buckley was during the war in
'h. three months service as sergeant
o the first Wisconsin infantry. After
returning from the war to Madison.
.' was appointed deputy marshal in
Subsequently he held office con-
NHIously as a police officer, deputy
sheriff and deputy United States mar
-Nai until 1875. In that year, upon
'-. commentator OF some Of his
."anaS Capt. Irving NJ. Bean, who had
been appointed collector of in
'".L1l revenue for the Milwaukee dis
i., appointed Mr. Buckley to the po-
'"on OF outside deputy. He served
's q subordinate depl> untfi 1885, at
WITCH time Capt. Bean surrendered the
once go his democratic successors In
.''' Mr. Buckley was appointed a
a,rnty sheriff under Sheriff George
..-ehen, with whom he served until
"' was made deputy United States
.. shall by Gen Hamilton at Milwau
a-s which position he held at the time
.#f bis death