Age: 32
Served:  5 years
1873 to January 24, 1878

Just before 4 a.m. on the morning of January 24, 1878, four men were attempting to break into a home at 153 Dayton Street.  A neighbor saw them and threw a flower pot to the ground from a 2nd floor window which alerted other neighbors.  When a few men ran to see where the noise had come from, they were confronted by the four armed burglars who fired at them.  The citizens ran for their lives toward Linn Street.

At this time, Patrolman Kunkel was patrolling the east end of his beat which ran between Bank and York Streets from Linn Street to the Mill Creek.  At Linn, he met Patrolmen Daugherty and Davis who patrolled the east side of Linn Street.  While they were talking, they heard the yelling, followed by gunshots, and then two men running toward and past them.  The officers ran to the source of the commotion on Dayton Street, Patrolman Kunkel in front by a short distance, and came up against the four young men holding revolvers pointed at the officers.  Patrolman Kunkel, on the run, pulled a Hopkins and Allen revolver from his pocket and attempted to aim and fire, but the firearm misfired.  The other officers also fired, but without effect.  One of the four gunmen raised his Navy Colt revolver and deliberately aimed and shot Patrolman Kunkel in the abdomen, who threw up his hands and yelled, “My God!  I’m shot!” and fell to the ground.  The other two officers went to his aid and the shooters fled west on Dayton Street.  Patrolman Kunkel was taken into the residence of P. B. Armstrong where he died before medical assistance could arrive.

A funeral was held January 27, 1878, at St. Augustine Church, 923 Bank Street near Ailanthus Street.  Patrolman Kunkel left a wife, Mary (32), and a son, William (9).  Mary died two decades later and was buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery in St. Bernard.  We believe Patrolman Kunkel is buried there also.

On February 4, 1878, a Coroner’s jury returned a verdict that Patrolman Kunkel’s death was caused by a pistol ball wound and implicated “Travis, Weaver, and Dougherty.”  The three were arrested in Indianapolis, Indiana, but the newspapers of the day thought there was little chance that they would be extradited back to Cincinnati for trial.

If you have further information, artifacts, or pictures of this officer, please contact the Museum Director at Director@GCPHS.com.