Details

Collection Summary
Collection: FND002 - SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Peace Officer Memorial Program
Series: Tribute
Folder: DIG
Item: 00822
Title: Patrick Devaney
Date:
Creator:
Inscription/Marks: 6/6/1870
Summary: Patrick Devaney / Kersey Gowin Minot April 1918 Both Patrick Devaney, night officer of the Minot Police Department and Kersey Gowin, a special agent for the Attorney General were mortally wounded one night in April, 1918 after having gone to lie in a field northeast of Minot, waiting for two or more automobile tire thieves. Less than a month later, a man named Arthur L. Buck, who made a confession, was sentenced in Ward County District Court to life imprisonment for murdering them. On that Friday, a farmer was seeding wheat on his farm northeast of Minot. The farmer came on to a set of car tracks that crossed his field. Curious as to who made the tracks and what the trespassers were doing in his field, he followed the tracks and found at the end a bunch of stolen tires which he reported to authorities. Plans were made by Minot Police to lie in wait at the site of the tires to see if anyone would return for the loot. That night about 10 p.m., Devaney and Gowin volunteered to stake out the area. Upon reaching the field, they found a car parked by the road. They stopped the car and the two law men went down along a fence in a pasture. Due to the darkness, they proceeded with caution as they knew that someone could be at the scene of the tires. The officers went but a few feet when two men stood up and the shooting started. Devaney was killed outright and Gowin was hit by several bullets but made his way back to the car. Gowin lived until 2:53 the next morning and was able to give the authorities the information necessary to convict Arthur Buck in the murder of Patrick Devaney and Kersey Gowin. Devaney was survived by his wife and five children. Gowin left a wife and two sons.
Red ID: FND_I_77296 Image ID: 509116 Image Notes: 10950 00002 00822

Collection: FND002 Digitized Images from Collection
Title: SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Peace Officer Memorial Program
Date:

Summary: The North Dakota Peace Officer Memorial Program honors fallen officers with highlights of their lives and careers.

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