Age 58
Served 3 years

By most accounts, Benjamin Franklin “Frank” Duncan and Scott W. “Dock” Hopkins were life-long friends starting in childhood.  Patrolman Duncan lived at 140 Oakland Avenue in Rosedale.  His brother was a minister of the Latonia Christian Church and his oldest daughter was a school teacher.  Frank Duncan was a respected and well-liked member of the community.

Hopkins operated a saloon at 741 Main Street (now Decoursey Avenue) with his brother Ed.  One or two years earlier, a man was killed in the bar.  Prior to mid-June 1908, there had been other complaints about saloons remaining open after the midnight hour closing time and that fights and gambling were common.  Eventually, a group called the Latonia Law and Order League, made up of congregations from multiple churches, called for strict enforcement of liquors laws and the dismissal of police officers who failed to enforce those laws. 

Between midnight and 1 a.m. on the morning of June 19, 1908, Patrolman Duncan was in Hopkin’s saloon, apparently to close it down.  Aside from this official action, no one knows what, if anything else, was said.  It is certain that Hopkins pulled a Colt .41 caliber revolver and shot Patrolman Duncan in the back and chest, killing him.      

Latonia Police Chief John Hamlon and his officers responded as did a crowd of 500 people intent on lynching Hopkins.  Kenton County Sheriff George Davison was called and took many of his deputies.  Upon his arrival, he found a frenzied crowd, Patrolman Duncan was dead on his back with his unfired revolver several inches from his hand, and Hopkins was barricaded in a room inside the saloon threatening to shoot anyone who tried to enter.  The Latonia officers had already fired several shots through the door, but they missed Hopkins.  Hopkins finally allowed Deputy O’Mara to enter and O’Mara talked him into surrendering.  Hopkins, either “drunk or overly excited” told the sheriff that he would not let anyone tell him what time to close his saloon.

Patrolman Duncan was survived by his six children; Grace L. Duncan (30), Normon Duncan (27), Florence M. Duncan (24), Benjamin Franklin Duncan (22), Frank Duncan (20), and Sallie A. Duncan (18).  The layout was held at his home on Oakland and his body was sent to Glencoe, Gallatin County, Kentucky for burial.

A coroner’s inquest returned a verdict of murder.  One bullet had entered the lower edge of Patrolman Duncan’s left shoulder blade, went through both lungs, and out his right side.  One entered in the breast and came out near the lower edge of the right ear.  These indicated that he was shot once from the side and once in the back.  Two other bullets lodged in the wall behind where Duncan was standing.  Hopkins admitted shooting Patrolman Duncan, but asserted that it was done in self-defense.
The Kenton County Grand Jury indicted Hopkins for murder the next day and the judge refused to allow Hopkins out on bond.  A court date of July 6, 1908, was set for the trial, but the only witness could not be found.  On August 4, 1908, the judge set a bond and Hopkins was released. The Duncan family sued Hopkins on September 25, 1908.  On December 13, 1912, after numerous delays and without the witness having been found, both the criminal and civil cases were dismissed.

Covington annexed Latonia during 1909.

Anyone with additional information with regard to family, artifacts, or photographs of this officer, are asked to contact the Museum Director at Director@GCPHS.com.