Jackson County Deputy Marshal James Gallagher died from a gunshot wound sustained years earlier during an attempted arrest.

In 1895, a warrant was issued by Justice Spitz for the arrest of two men for burglary to be served by Deputy Gallagher and Marshal H. J. Taylor. The marshals went to the area of 12th and Vine where the men, Charley Culver and Tom Green, were known to frequent rooms over a saloon. They encountered the two men at 12:15 am the corner of 12th Street and Highland Avenue in Kansas City. Officer O'Donnell grabbed one of the suspects and the other suspect fired his gun twice, striking Deputy Gallagher once in the chest. The suspects fled the scene on foot, one was apprehended by Officer O'Donnell but the shooting suspect escaped. The suspect was fined $50 in court for carrying a concealed weapon. The revolver was identified as stolen. Deputy Gallagher was taken to the KCPD Police Headquarters where he was examined by the surgeon and then to his home without the bullet being removed. Deputy Gallagher later rejoined the police department. He contracted a severe cold during the flood of 1903 that permanently affected his lung where he still carried the bullet, ultimately taking his life on January 6, 1908.

Deputy Marshal Gallagher served on the Kansas City Police Department from May 4, 1895 until he resigned on January 2, 1897 to become a Jackson County Deputy Marshal. He ultimately returned to the KCPD and was promoted to detective April 13, 1906. Interred: Mount Saint Mary’s Catholic Cemetery, Jackson County MO.

Deputy Marshal Gallagher served during the era when the County Marshal served Jackson County from 1871-1924, as the designated conservator of the peace in the county, maintained the jail in Independence and the courts and had all the powers in criminal cases that are or may be conferred on sheriff. He maintained an office in the marshal's jail that also had a quarters for the resident jailer. What is now the 1859 Jail Museum in Independence, MO.