Officer James Edgar
Material comes from Pieces of the Past, Volume 3, page 234
and reprinted here with the permission of the author, Jim Reis
James Edgar became the first name on the list of those Newport officers who died in the line of duty. The incident involving Officer James Edgar happened on November 13, 1884. It was about 3 in the morning when Edgar and his partner, John McCloud, were walking a beat at Monmouth and Ringgold streets (Eighth Street).
On the northeast corner of that intersection was a grocery owned by J B Lock. The grocery was closed, but the officers saw a light in the rear of the building. They tried the front door, but it was locked. As they looked in a window they saw several men trying to break open a safe. The burglars saw the police officers and all raced to the back of the building.
The burglars, accounts say five, attempted to climb over a rear fence. A scuffle broke out and McCloud fired a shot. In the melee, one of the burglars fired a shot, hitting Edgar in the abdomen. McCloud went to Edgar's aid. Edgar was carried across the street to the office of Dr. F A Locke. The doctor probed the wound for a .32-caliber bullet but gave up for fear he would cause more harm.
A wagon with a mattress was brought out, and Edgar was transported to his home. He lived at 154 Putman St. with a wife and three? children. Doctors said there was little hope Edgar would recover. Meanwhile police discovered the grocery was only one of several buildings apparently broken into that morning.
Edgar's funeral was held on November 18, 1884, at Grace Methodist Episcopal Church; city buildings were draped in black for 30 days. Edgar had served in the Union Army during the Civil War and was decorated for bravery. Part of the graveside service included a large, three foot high flower arrangement in the design of the GAR, which stood for Grand Army of the Republic, the association of Union veterans.
Edgar was buried in the section of Evergreen Cemetery set aside for soldiers and sailors.
James Edgar was born in 1846 in Newport to John Edgar and Margaret Hasting. He married Kate Coyne 2 July 1868 in Newport. Katharine was born 14 Feb 1843 in Ireland to John Cayne and died 18 Aug 1927 in Cold Spring and was buried in Evergreen.
Children of John Edgar and Margaret Hasting
1. Samuel Edgar b-1833 in Ireland
2. Joseph Edgar b-1836 in Ireland
2. Alexander Edgar b-1840 in Ireland
3. James Edgar b-1846 in Ireland; d-14 Nov 1884 in Newport; m-Kate Coyne d/o
John Coyne
4. Mary Edgar b-1848 in Ireland
5. Lydia Jane Edgar b-4 Oct 1850 in Newport; d-7 Oct 1930 in Indianapolis;
m-John W Watson
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Children of James Edgar and Kate Coyne
1. Lydia Edgar b-1869 in Newport
2. John Edgar b-1871 in Newport
3. Margaret "Maggie" Edgar b-June 1874 in Newport
4. James Thomas Edgar b-5 Nov 1876 in Newport; d-7 Jan 1944 in Cincinnati
5. Anna Edgar b-1878 in Newport
6. Jessie R Edgar b-17 Aug 1884 in Newport; d-12 Feb 1914 in Cold Spring; br-Evergreen
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Cincinnati Enquirer, 14 November 1884, page 4
BURGLAR'S BULLETS
Officer James Edgar, of the Newport police force, was shot and seriously wounded in Newport yesterday morning about fifteen minutes to four o'clock. Edgar, in company with his partner, Officer John McCloud, who patrol what is known as the "Third Ward" beast in Newport, made when their usual rounds yesterday morning. When they arrived at the corner of Dayton and Ringgold streets, they heard a peculiar noise, and walked up toward Monmouth street to investigate it.
When they arrived at the north east corner of Monmouth and Ringgold streets, on which is situated the grocery of John B Lock, a brother of the Chief of Police of Newport, they stopped. Officer McCloud peeped in the store and discovered burglars at work. Grabbing his partner by the arm, he said; "John there are men in the grocery." The burglars however, had discovered them and were preparing to escape by the back way. The officers soon discovered their plan and hastened to the back part of the store to head them off. The officers could not get at the back part of the premises owing to a high fence. They both mounted some salt barrels that were lying alongside of the fence and fired two shots.
The burglars then retreated toward a fence that separates the premises of Mr. Lock from a vacant lot. Officer McCloud hastened around on Dayton street and just as he arrived at the high fence he heard two of the rascals coming toward him. He waited at the fence and pulled his pistol and just at that moment one of the burglars put his nose over the fence, and the officer fired, and is confident that he hit his man, as he heard both men drop on the other side and run back.
The officer went back to head them off again, but the burglars had made their exit by some chance and managed to get on Dayton street, where they were discovered by the officers. the battle of the bullets began. Officer Edgar fired five shots and McCloud emptied his revolver. When Officer Edgar fired the burglars were on the opposite side of the street and they immediately returned the fire, which was kept up steadily for a period of about three or four minutes, the shots begin fired in rapid succession. Finally one of the burglars started up Ringgold street and officer Edgar fired at him. This is the one that probably shot the officer.
Officer McCloud started after the two men, who went down Dayton street toward Harris. They were firing at him, and he shot in the direction of the flash of their pistols, as it was simply a matter of impossibility to see a man more than ten feet off, owing to the intense fog. had it been otherwise the result would have been different. Officer McCloud had crossed to the sidewalk, with a view to hitting one of them with a chance shot, when he heard Officer Edgar call him. He asked Edgar if he had one of them, when the officer replied: "No Jack, I am afraid they have got me. I am shot." The burglar question was then dropped and McCloud hastened to the assistance of his partner, who was leaning against a tree box.
Mr. Lock, who had heard the firing asked the officers if they needed any help. McCloud told him to come down that Edgar was shot. The officer and Mr. Lock carried him over to the dispensary of Dr. Lock, where the wounded man was laid on a sofa. Dr. Lock and Dr. Davis were soon at the side of the wounded man, who at that hour was apparently suffering great pain. They had examined the wound and found that the ball had penetrated the bowels.
The doctors probed for the ball to a depth of two inches, but being unable to locate it property abandoned it until later in the day. The wounded man was then taken to his home on Putman, where he was place under the influence of morphine to alleviate the intense pain that he was suffering.
There is scarcely any clew (sic) to the burglars. The Mayor yesterday notified the police to arrest all suspicious characters and the following named were jailed: Wm Gates, John Davies, Chas Flannelly Wm Elliott and Lon Emerson. Elliott was arrested by Officer DeCoursey on Sycamore street in this city, taken to Hammond street station house and subsequently to Newport. They are all held on suspicion, but it is generally conceded that they are the wrong party, as none of the above possessed of sense enough to do as neat and perfect a job of safe blowing as was done at Jack's grocery.
Edgar, the wounded officer, is one of the bravest and best of the Newport police force, and is a fine man physically. He is over six feet tall and is built solidly from the ground up. He was awarded a medal by Congress for bravery at the battle of Fredericksburg in 1864. The color bearer was shot during the engagement and Edgar took the flag and planted it on the hill of Fredericksburg amid a perfect rain of bullets. He was also promoted for the brave act.
Both officers did all in their power to discharge their duty in capturing the burglars, but the weather was against them. Previous to the robbery at Lock's, the grocery of Thomas Weston, on Madison and Saratoga streets, was relieved of a lot of cigars, tobacco and a small amount of money. The cigars were found in an ash barrel yesterday morning where they were left. The silver stolen from Lock's grocery were found in an adjoining yard, where it was dropped by the villains during the battle.
Mr. Edgar is the officer who accidentally killed Chris Weber at the recent October election in Newport. The police are certain that one of the men they have in jail was implicated in the shooting, but have nothing definite to base their opinion on. It was said that Officer Edgar could identify the man if he saw him again. Mr. Edgar is perfectly conscious and was resting easy last night and in fact his attending physician, Dr. Lock, has great hope for his recovery. Mr. Edgar has a wife and depending on him for support.