The Pensacola Police Historic Society

In the late 1800s, downtown Pensacola was known worldwide as a wild, uncivilized place. Debauchery and fighting were daily occurrences. After all, it was a busy port town, filled with sailors right from months of being at sea and pockets full of money.

On the evening of September 21, 1889 – a typical, rowdy Saturday night – Officer Gordon was forced to arrest David Sheehan, a very popular Pensacolian, and an engineer on the steamer Echo, at Palafox and Zarragossa Streets. As Gordon approached him for the arrest, Sheehan drew back and struck Officer Gordon. Gordon responded with a blow of his nightstick. That brought Sheehan under control. He was arrested and posted bond, awaiting his appearance in court.

The next day, Officer Gordon was again walking his beat when David Sheehan approached him and told him the blow was unnecessary. Gordon explained that he was just doing his duty, and then encouraged him to leave, but Sheehan refused and continued with the accusations. A witness, Ben Frost, said he heard the conversation. In answer to Sheehan’s accusation, Gordon said, “Dave, if you was an officer like me standing on your beat and I walked up and struck you like you did me and got clubbed, it would be right[1].” Sheehan turned his back on Gordon and began to pace back and forth. Suddenly, Sheehan produced a firearm and said, “I’ll give you a chance for your life.” At least three witnesses overheard this.

Gordon took cover and blew his whistle as a call for backup as Sheehan fired. He hastily drew his revolver and returned fire, but he felt a bullet go through his heart.

In a few minutes, his breathing became labored. All efforts to help were fruitless. He slowly got worse and worse. A crowd had gathered now, watching Gordon suffer through what they all knew were his final moments. His breathing became slower and shallower, then, about twenty minutes later, it stopped. He would suffer no more…but his wife and children would. They would never see him alive again. He would never again go fishing with his son and someone else would have to give his daughter away at her wedding.

It had never happened. Everyone was in shock. No police officer had ever been killed in Pensacola before. Gordon was part of the community, part of them. And he was only 35 years old – in the prime of his life. His wife and three children received his pension. Following the coroner’s inquest, Officer Gordon’s body was shipped to Alabama for burial.

Ninety days later, on Friday, December 20, 1889, the courthouse was full, waiting to see the punishment that the man would get for murdering their friend. The trial proceeded with witness after witness testifying as to what they saw. Sheehan testified also, giving his side of the story. But Officer John Gordon couldn’t testify. He wasn’t able to tell the jury what Sheehan said or did to cause the incident, or what Sheehan said the next day. When the testimony was completed and the lawyers had argued, the jury was sent back. When they returned with a verdict, it was read.

“Not Guilty.” What? Why? Maybe it was the weight on their shoulders, maybe it was that they couldn’t face friends of the defendant. It didn’t matter. It was done.

David Sheehan died in 1905 at age 59. He was a favorite in town, perhaps being part of the reason for his acquittal.

[1] The Pensacola News Jan 24, 1889, acquired 10/10/2022