The lawman’s headstone

While researching headstones and histories for upcoming tours involving Sheridan’s past lawmen, Museum at the Bighorns Collections Manager Jessica Salzman discovered a grave that lacked a headstone.

That grave belonged to Sheridan Undersheriff William McPherren, who gave his life in the line of duty. While performing her research, Salzman knew the section McPherren was laid to rest but after walking the area and confirming her theory with a grave reference website, she determined that he was in fact buried in the correct location but lacked any marker.  

Salzman told listeners of Sheridan Media’s Public Pulse program little about McPherren’s law enforcement career. 

For thirteen years, the manufacturer, sales and use of alcohol was constitutionally banned in the United States. Prohibition in the US began in 1920 and would last until 1933. 

In today’s day and age, it may seem a small offence to be caught bootlegging liquor but in those 13 years, a war against the powerful mobsters and steadfast lawmen raged in the streets of America’s large cities. In the smaller rural towns across the country, a similar war was taking place against rum-runners and bootleggers making a profit off the legislation intended to dry up the American people. Law enforcement would perform raids, destroying distilleries and dumping illegal booze. Salzman’s research reveals that it was during one of these raids that McPherren gave his life.  

McPherren died during a prohibition moonshine raid outside of Monarch on Oct. 7, 1921. According to Salzman, while all the other officers were certain which of the two bootleggers had pulled the trigger, Earl McKenna was found not guilty of the murder charge. McKenna’s attorney spoke so passionately about the necessity of acquitting his client that the audience was moved to tears several times as he painted McKenna and McPherren as victims of a blundered and unjust raid. The jury’s reason for acquittal was that it could not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt that McKenna fired the fatal shot.

With the help of other staff at the Museum at the Bighorns, Salzman and Executive Director Mikayla Larrow were determined to raise the needed funds to purchase and emplace a headstone for this Sheridan lawman. 

Thanks to Champion Funeral Home and Jim and Angie Navarro that part of the quest has come to a quick end. 

Salzman does not know why there was no headstone placed for McPherren, but she said there are many possible reasons. Perhaps an order was placed and never filled, it may have been damaged after it was placed and removed, the possibilities can go on. But now, thanks to some determined ladies from the Museum at the Bighorns, Champion Funeral Home and some generous residents, everyone will know where to go to say thank you to a Sheridan lawman who gave his life performing his duties.