Home > United States of America > Tennessee > Davidson County > Nashville > Calvary Cemetery > William Edward Irwin

William Edward Irwin

Birth	:	19 Jul 1867 Davidson County, Tennessee, USA
Death	:	15 Dec 1935 Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee, USA
Burial	:	Calvary Cemetery, Nashville, Davidson County, USA
Coordinate	:	36.1525002, -86.7382965
Description	:	(Published in “The Nashville Tennessean,” Monday, December 16, 1935; page 1) William E. Irwin, With City Police For 41 Years, Dies Detective Helped solve Famous Cases in Days of Buggies. William E. Irwin, 68, the oldest man in service of the Nashville police department, died a 5 o’clock Sunday morning in a local hospital of a three-day illness of pneumonia. He was a member of the city police department for 41 years, and a detective for the past 28 years. Beginning early in this century, Mr. Irwin was connected with solving some of the most outstanding crimes committed in Nashville. During the entire... Read More	(Published in “The Nashville Tennessean,” Monday, December 16, 1935; page 1) William E. Irwin, With City Police For 41 Years, Dies Detective Helped solve Famous Cases in Days of Buggies. William E. Irwin, 68, the oldest man in service of the Nashville police department, died a 5 o’clock Sunday morning in a local hospital of a three-day illness of pneumonia. He was a member of the city police department for 41 years, and a detective for the past 28 years. Beginning early in this century, Mr. Irwin was connected with solving some of the most outstanding crimes committed in Nashville. During the entire time of his service he had never missed a day on duty. His last day at work was Wednesday. Thursday he remained at home with a severe cold, which developed into pneumonia. But he had three days coming to him on his vacation. Had he missed work Sunday, it would have been his first day to miss duty in his career. He died, however, early Sunday morning before time to report. A son of Ellen Connor Irwin and Thomas Edward Irwin, he was born in Nashville, and spent his entire life in this city. He was educated in parochial schools, and on December 7, 1894 he was made a member of the Nashville police department. Three years later, during the Nashville Centennial, he was appointed a detective, and remained in this capacity until his death, except for six months in 1901 when he was shifted to duty as a patrolman. As a detective he had three partners. The first was Francis Fogarty, with whom he served a short time. The second was Pat Dowd, with whom he was associated for 19 years and nine months. This pair in the early days of the century became famous throughout the city for their many arrests and the tracing of criminals back before the days of radio and automobiles. They used buggies and wagons, but they got their man. For the past 16 years, Mr. Irwin had as his partner John Varley; in recent years they were the pawnshop detail, whose duty it was to check all pawn shops in the city to detect stolen goods. Mr. Irwin always considered his best catch the capture of London Red, famed bank and post office robber, who was taken a prisoner by the Nashville detective. It was Mr. Irwin, a number of years ago, who, after a long investigation, arrested Dr. Fiest, who was charged with the murder of Mrs. Mangrum. This was one of the most famous murders ever known here, the doctor finally being released by the supreme court because of a failure to establish a corpus delicti.* Referring to Mr. Irvin’s death, Chief of Detectives Elkin Lewis said last night, “His death took a very valuable man from the department. He had long been feared by criminals and his reputation as an officer was extraordinary.” Mr. Irwin was a communicant of the Church of the Holy Name, and was a member of the Knights of Columbus. In 1899 he was married to Miss Sarah Heitlinger, who survives him. Other survivors are a daughter, Mrs. Stacey M. Dobbs of Nashville; four sisters, Mrs. John Dennis, Birmingham, Mrs. J. J. Crowley, Mrs. W. M. Stratton and Miss Jennie Irwin of Nashville, and three grandchildren. Funeral services will be conducted at 8:45 o’clock Tuesday morning at the residence, 1005 Mansfield avenue. Requiem high mass will be said at 9 o’clock at the Church of the Holy Name. Active pallbearers will be John Varley, Frank Harris, E. I. Tuck, J. M. Petway, Frank Underwood, Sr., John A. Dowd, H. G. Dennison and W. W. Scruggs. * Corpus delicti (Latin: body of the crime) is a term referring to the principle that a crime must be proved to have occurred before a person can be convicted of committing that crime. (Contributor: Rev. Edward F. Steiner, # 47347402, 7/24/17)

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is William Edward Irwin's memorial?
William Edward Irwin's memorial is located at: Calvary Cemetery, Nashville, Davidson County, USA.
When did William Edward Irwin death?
William Edward Irwin death on 15 Dec 1935 in Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee, USA
Where are the coordinates of the William Edward Irwin's memorial?
Latitude: 36.1525002
Longitude: -86.7382965

Family Members:

Parent

Thomas Irwin

(1836 - 1894)

Ellen Connor Irwin

(1846 - 1914)

Spouse

Sarah Heitlinger Irwin

(1879 - 1948)

Siblings

John Michael Irwin

(1869 - 1899)

Ellen Louise Irwin Crowley

(1873 - 1962)

Annie Irwin

(1880 - 1881)

Jennie Connor Irwin

(1883 - 1960)

Thomas Irwin Jr.

(1884 - 1970)

Children

Christine Cecilia Irwin Dobbs

(1900 - 1979)

Ellen Irwin

(1902 - 1904)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Calvary Cemetery
Nashville, Davidson County, USA
Coordinate: 36.1525002, -86.7382965

2. Greenwood Cemetery West
Nashville, Davidson County, USA
Coordinate: 36.1450490, -86.7458150

3. Greenwood Cemetery
Nashville, Davidson County, USA
Coordinate: 36.1450005, -86.7238998

4. Christ Church Cathedral Columbarium
Nashville, Davidson County, USA
Coordinate: 36.1588310, -86.7831920

5. Benton Chapel
Nashville, Davidson County, USA
Coordinate: 36.1464790, -86.8006010

6. Saint Philips Episcopal Church Columbarium
Donelson, Davidson County, USA
Coordinate: 36.1741990, -86.6814720

7. King Cemetery
Davidson County, USA
Coordinate: 36.1119003, -86.6983032

8. Donelson Church of Christ Cemetery
Donelson, Davidson County, USA
Coordinate: 36.1711350, -86.6691150

9. Central State Hospital Black Cemetery
Nashville, Davidson County, USA
Coordinate: 36.1066770, -86.6883100

10. Evans Family Cemetery
Donelson, Davidson County, USA
Coordinate: 36.1620540, -86.6610090

11. James Buchanan Cemetery
Nashville, Davidson County, USA
Coordinate: 36.1444016, -86.6594009

12. Bacigalupo Family Cemetery
Donelson, Davidson County, USA
Coordinate: 36.1666570, -86.6605560

13. Grassmere Farm Slave Cemetery
Nashville, Davidson County, USA
Coordinate: 36.0867560, -86.7445530

14. Dunn-Croft Family Cemetery
Nashville, Davidson County, USA
Coordinate: 36.0866432, -86.7447128

15. First Unitarian Universalist Church Columbarium
Nashville, Davidson County, USA
Coordinate: 36.1140690, -86.8056800

16. Bryantown Cemetery
Nashville, Davidson County, USA
Coordinate: 36.1427994, -86.6539001

17. Central State Hospital Cemetery
Nashville, Davidson County, USA
Coordinate: 36.1006710, -86.6769220

18. Davidson County Cemetery
Nashville, Davidson County, USA
Coordinate: 36.1913986, -86.8133011

19. Historic Cemetery
Nashville, Davidson County, USA
Coordinate: 36.1094300, -86.6655930

20. Calvary United Methodist Church Columbarium
Nashville, Davidson County, USA
Coordinate: 36.1106080, -86.8123290

21. Hoggatt Graveyard
Nashville, Davidson County, USA
Coordinate: 36.1710210, -86.6477820

22. Clover Bottom Developmental Center Cemetery
Donelson, Davidson County, USA
Coordinate: 36.1644540, -86.6429150

23. Columbarium of First Presbyterian Church
Nashville, Davidson County, USA
Coordinate: 36.0796510, -86.7755510

24. Hooper Graveyard
Nashville, Davidson County, USA
Coordinate: 36.2300153, -86.7654424