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The Life of Special Officer George N. Barnett Jr.

Police Officer George Niel Barnett

Philadelphia Police Department, Pennsylvania

End of Watch Monday, November 28, 1910

 

 

George Barnett, 39
Philadelphia Police Officer

George Barnett, Jr., a Philadelphia Police Officer was killed in the line of duty November 28, 1910. Policeman Barnett was shot and killed while attempting to question a suspect of being involved in a burglary.


Officer Barnett was the son of George and Ann Barnett of Rowlandsville, Md and brother of Mary and William.  Sarah "Sadie" Grant of Camden, NJ married George about 1896, Son Harry L was born on June 26,1897.


Survived by his wife Sarah "Sadie" Grant Barnett and 13 yr old son Harry L. Barnett.

GEORGE NIEL BARNETT

Police Officer George Barnett was shot and killed at 41st Street and Pine Street while attempting to question a suspicious man he suspected of being involved in a burglary.

Despite being mortally wounded, Officer Barnett returned fire and shot and killed the suspect.


Officer Barnett, who was in plainclothes, approached the man and told him to take his hands out of his pockets. As the man complied he suddenly produced a revolver and shot officer Barnett.

Philadelphia Inquirer wrote “Barely conscious and with the burglar beating him on the head with the butt of gun, Barnett got his own pistol into play and shot a bullet through the burglar’s heart. After making a statement of Magistrate, Barnett stated ‘please don’t ask me questions, I'm dying, they got me this time.’ He died at University Hospital.”

The family was living at 4032 Locust St, Phila. when George was murdered two blocks away at 42nd and Pine Sts.A plaque dedication honoring his sacrifice was placed July 22, 2009 at 42nd and Pine where he died.




Officer Barnett had been assigned to the 21st district.

BIO

Age 39

Tour 13 years, 1 month

Badge 2118

INCIDENT DETAILS

Cause Gunfire

Weapon Handgun; Revolver

Offender Shot and killed

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2023.11.28
Story researched and written by Drew Techner.

Policeman George Barnett
Philadelphia Police Department
Pennsylvania
End of Watch: Monday, November 28, 1910

Biographical Info
Age: 41
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: 2118
Unit of assignment: 21st District

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Monday, November 28, 1910
Weapon Used: Handgun; Revolver
Suspect Info: Shot and killed

In 2009, the Philadelphia Police sought relatives of Officer George Barnett, who was shot and killed in the line of duty on Nov. 28, 1910. A plaque-dedication honoring his sacrifice was held Monday July 22, 2009, 11:00 a.m. at 42nd and Pine streets, West Philadelphia, where he died. No family could be located but representatives of Arlington Cemetery did attend the service.

Plaque dedication information:

Police Officer George Barnett #2118
EOW: 11-28-1910
Location: 42nd and Pine Streets, 18th District
SPONSOR: Detective Gary Capuano, SWDD
Wednesday, July 22, 2009 at 11:00am

Policeman Barnett was shot and killed while attempting to question a suspicious man he suspected of being involved in a burglary. Policeman Barnett, who was in plainclothes, approached the man and told him to take his hands out of his pockets. As the man complied he suddenly produced a revolver and shot Policeman Barnett.

Despite being mortally wounded, Policeman Barnett returned fire and shot and killed the suspect.

Springfield Republican (Mass.), December 24, 1910, page 1:

The body of a man who killed Policeman Goerge W. Barnett in West Philadelphia on November 28, and in return was shot and killed by the policeman, was yesterday buried in Odd Fellows cemetery at Philadelphia without services of any kind. The police say the body was that of Frederick Zudack of New York, who had been disowned by his relatives in that city.

George's death certificate lists his parents as George and Annie. When George's son Harry registered for the draft during World War I, he reported that his father was born in Rowlandsville, Maryland. The 1870 census lists a family group in "Rowland ville" that is probably his family -- a year before he was born:

George Barnett, 32, laborer, born Penna.
Ann Barnett, 27, keeping house, born Penna.
Mary Barnett, 5, born Maryland
William Barnett, 1, born Maryland

There were several Barnett families in the vicinity of Rowlandsville and we lose trace of the above-listed family after 1870.

Officer George Barnett's death certificate lists his name as "George Mc. Barnett." This could mean that he is connected to another family found in the 1880 census living in Brick Meeting House (now Calvert), Cecil Co., MD. -- a distance of ten miles from Rowlandsville:

Jonathan Barnett, 41, Farmer
John W. Barnett, 21, Keeping House
William A. Barnett, 17, Farm Hand
George B. Mc. Barnett, 15, Works on Farm
Anthony J. Barnett, 13, At School
Anna M. Barnett, 10, At School

The census lists the above George as Jonathan's son. However, it may be that he was actually a nephew. This is possible if the previously-listed George and Ann couple died and their daughters married and carried different surnames.

Mike Dixon, of the Cecil County Historical Society, searched and found a Midland Journal newspaper article reporting the officer's death. It stated, "George Barnett was a brother of W. R. Barnett, station agent at Rowlandsville."

Jonathan Barnett, widower (b. Feb. 1837), and his sons John W. (b. March 1859) and Anthony J. (b. Sept. 1867) appear in the 1900 census living in East Nottingham Township, Chester Co., Pa. Also living with them is the grandmother Delilia (b. Oct. 1812).

As late as 1930 census, we find sons John W. and Anthony J. still living together in East Nottingham Township. However, these siblings don't appear to have ever had children of their own.

Officer Barnett's widow was Sarah "Sadie" Grant Barnett (nee Lynch) born Sept. or Oct. 1878 in Camden, New Jersey.

In 1880, Sadie and her parents were living in Camden with her grand-uncle George W. Conrow, 50, sack mill worker. No other siblings listed.

She married George Barnett about 1896. On June 26, 1897, George and Sadie's had a son, Harry L. Barnett. The 1900 Census shows she only gave birth to one child. The family were living at 3254 Ludlow Street in 1900.

The family was living at 4032 Locust St. when George was murdered two blocks away at 42nd and Pine Sts.

Harry, a railroad worker, died Sept. 21, 1918 and is buried with his father at Arlington Cemetery, Drexel Hill, Pa. (see headstone).

By 1918, Sadie had remarried to Maurice F. Cahn, a glass factory book-keeper, and the couple went to live with her parents Henry (Harry) and Ida Lynch at 3609 Sansom St. Maurice was originally from Ellicott City, Baltimore Co., MD. and was born May 1871.

By 1920, Sadie and Maurice were living on Park Avenue in Laurel Springs, Camden Co., NJ. Maurice died in December 1925 and she buried him in the same Arlington Cemetery lot as her first husband George.

By 1930, she was living at 51 Walnut Ave., Laurel Springs, NJ where she lived with her parents and third husband Dennison W. George, a pipe-fitting machinist. She was working as a department store sales lady.

On January 13, 1947, Sadie was interred in the family lot at Arlington Cemetery, Drexel Hill, Pa. Her husband Dennison, using the Laurel Springs address, paid for her final arrangements. This is the most recent information the cemetery company has for the family.

Story researched and written by Drew Techner.

Posted by Anne M on 11/28/2023