Kansas Officer's Final Hours Described

A Topeka police officer on May 5, 1912, was staked out at the Union Pacific train station. Caswell S. Matthews was under orders to wait for two people suspected of holding up the city marshal in Bonner Springs several days earlier.

The pair were thought to be en route on a train to the capital city from Bonner Springs. Matthews eyed two suspicious people shortly before 6 p.m. who were crossing the tracks in front of the depot. The officer confronted them.

"Where did you fellows come from?" the officer asked as he put a hand on the shoulder of one of the men.

On Saturday, the city will mark the 100th anniversary of the death of Officer Matthews, who is believed to be the first Topeka officer killed in the line of duty.

Read the full Capital-Journal story.