Dano M. Jackley

Image of Prohibition Agent Dano Jackley
Date of Birth: 
1879
Date of Death: 
May 14, 1929
Location of Death: 
Riverdale, MD
Image of the Department of the Treasury, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms badge

Circumstances of Death

Prohibition Agents Dano Jackley, W. Blandford, Lamar York and Charles McCartney were performing a routine patrol on the Maryland roadways looking for suspicious vehicles transporting liquor.  As they drove along Baltimore-Washington Boulevard in Riverdale, they observed a Ford Roadster, which appeared to be loaded with liquor.  The agents gave chase for about 15 miles and attempted to overtake the vehicle in Berwyn.  However, as they drove along side, the suspect vehicle suddenly turned sharply to the left, catching the front tire of the Government vehicle, causing the agents' car to spin out of control and crash into a telephone pole.  The suspect immediately left the scene.  In the accident, Agent Jackley was thrown hard to the floor and complained of internal injuries.  He was rushed to Providence Hospital in Washington, DC, but later died.  The suspect vehicle was later traced to Edward Martin, of Washington, DC.  He was identified as the owner and arrested for manslaughter.  In court, the agents were unable to identify Mr. Martin as the driver of the Ford Roadster and he was subsequently exonerated by a Coroner's jury.  However, Martin was arrested by the U.S. Marshals and charged with assaulting a Federal officer.

Background

Agent Jackley joined the Prohibition Unit on February 1, 1922.

Personal

Agent Jackley was born in Jamesville, OH.  He was survived by his wife and their daughter, Ruth.  He is buried in Cameron, WV.

Associated Artifacts: 
Image of The Washington Post newspaper article, dated May 13, 1929, with headline, Police take Suspect in Fatal Rum Chase
Image of The Washington Post newspaper article, dated May 13, 1929, with headline, Police Arrest Man as Driver in Death Chase
Image of The Washington Post newspaper article, dated May 14, 1929, with headline, Fatal Wreck is Declared Due to Bumping by Vehicle Traveling Behind
Image of The Washington Post newspaper article, dated May 18, 1929, with headline, Driver Exonerated in Dry Man's Death
Image of newspaper article with headline, Police Arrest Man as Driver in Death Chase
Image of newspaper article with headline, Police Take Suspect in Fatal Rum Chase
Image of newspaper article with headline, Driver of Alleged Rum Car Will Get a Preliminary Hearing Tomorrow
Image of newspaper article with headline, Fatal Wreck is Declared Due to Bumping by Vehicle Traveling Behind
Last Reviewed September 23, 2016