Robert S Garrett, City Marshal

Hastings 

About 4 P.M. on Tuesday, February 2, 1909, City Marshal Garrett along with County Commissioner Giles went to where a new road was to be laid out leading to the west edge of a new medal bridge that would cross Beaver Creek about five miles from Hastings. Part of the land for the road was on the land of F. M. Powers and had been condemned by the county for building the road. Garrett and Giles were met at a gate at the site of the new road by Powers and his son Lee. The men talked for a few minutes before Lee Powers struck Mr. Giles in the face with his fist. Mr. Giles made a rush for Lee Powers but Lee pulled a gun and shot at Giles missing him. Marshal Garrett pulled his gun and told the younger Powers to drop his gun. Lee Powers instead fired the gun and the bullet struck Marshal Garrett in the abdomen. Garrett then shot Lee Powers dead. Marshal Garrett recovered from his wound and later resigned as Hastings City Marshal. Garrett’s wife had died a couple months before he was shot.   The afternoon of Saturday, October 16, 1909, Garrett was in Hastings when he was approached by Harvey Powers, brother of Lee Powers, and shot in the head several times in revenge for the death of his brother. A Hasting business man named J. A. Cornellus was standing near Garret and was also shot and killed by a stray bullet.  Garrett left behind several young children.