Deputy Marshal E.D. Henry never had a headstone until now
Albuquerque— When Albuquerque Deputy Marshal E.D. Henry was killed in the line of duty 125 years ago there was not a graveside service held in his honor nor was there a headstone placed on his grave.
On Monday, a day after the 125th anniversary of Henry’s death, members of the Albuquerque Police Department changed that when they conducted a special remembrance service for the first law enforcement officer killed in the line of duty in the city’s history. A special headstone was also placed at Henry’s Fairview Cemetery grave sight.
“This shows that our law enforcement officers who give the ultimate sacrifice are never forgotten,” Police Chief Ray Schultz said. “It’s an honor to be able to remember Deputy Henry years after he made that ultimate sacrifice.”
APD’s Museum Curator Paul Judd came up with the idea to have a remembrance service for Henry after he started studying all of the law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. During his research, Judd discovered that after Henry died, his family, who lived in Ohio, was contacted and asked to bury the lawman in Albuquerque. When Judd contacted Fairview Cemetery, where newspaper articles said he was buried, he discovered there was neither a headstone nor a grave marker. The cemetery had to use old records to determine Henry’s approximate burial site.
After learning of Henry’s story, The Historic Fairview Cemetery Foundation decided to donate a headstone. APD also started planning an appropriate burial service.
“We know very little about him,” Judd said. “We don’t even know his real first name. Just his initials.”
On Nov. 20 Town Marshal Robert McGuire and Henry received information that two notorious outlaws, Charlie Ross and John “The Kid” Johnson were hiding out in Martineztown . About 9 p.m. the two lawmen saw the outlaws at Pasqual’s Cutinola’s Dance Hall. While trying to apprehend the two outlaws, Henry was shot and died on the scene. McGuire, who was also shot, died of his wounds six days later. The two outlaws ultimately escaped police custody and were never tried for the killing of Henry and McGuire.
