St. John's Cemetery Individual Record

[No Photo]

Joseph Mallory Gassman
(September 2, 1909 -- January 30, 1966)

Section: 71
Space: 5
Lot: 3
Spouse: Mary
Occupation: Government
Comments: Dep. Sheriff killed in action
Owner: Gassman-Pagonis
Area: 0

Escambia County Deputy sheriff killed in the line of duty while serving a warrant on a home on 9th Ave.  He was stabbed 13 times by Augustus King, a black man.  He was subsequently arrested by the FL highway patrol.  King was sentenced to death, but upon appeal got a life sentence.  He himself was murdered in jail by his cellmate 25 years later.