Fallen Staff - Marie F. Curtis
End of Watch: Sunday, January 1, 1967
On December 27, 1966, at 10:30 AM Gladys Garnet Turner, 48-year-old female federal parolee, walked up three fight flights of stairs to enter the U.S. Probation Office in the Fairmont, West Virginia post office and federal building. Federal parolee Turner carried with her a six shot .22 caliber revolver.
Her United States Probation Officer, L.O. Bickel was not in the office.
Federal parolee Turner shot Marie F. Curtis, age 49, the United States Probation Clerk of nine years, five times before shooting herself in the head with the last round. The Times West Virginia reported Marie lost her 88-hour fight for life on January 1, 1967.
Federal parolee Turner had been sentenced in 1962 for Interstate Transport of Altered Money Orders. She served approximately four years in custody at the Federal Reformatory for Women in Alderson, West Virginia, and was paroled on March 9, 1966.
Marie was survived by her husband John J. Curtis, her son John J. Curtis Jr. and daughter Dolores Curtis (née Johnson).
USPO Bickel was on leave at the time of Marie’s death and returned the day of the shooting. USPO Bickel was one of Marie’s pallbearers.
Photo courtesy C A Filius at Find a Grave. Date unknown.
Plaque to honor the death of all four Fallen Staff on display at the Probation and Pretrial Services Office, Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Washington, D.C.
Fairmont, West Virginia Post Office and Federal Building. Photo of postcard available for purchase at CardCow.com , date unknown.
Memorial plaque for fallen U.S. Probation Clerk Marie F. Curtis. Photo taken by this curator while on TDY at PPSO.
The “C.” is believed to be her maiden name, Christoper. Her gravestone uses “F.”
Obverse of 2" coin presented to families and district representatives at fallen staff ceremony on September 9, 2016. Co-designed by this curator and a PPSO Staffer, with input from other national administrative staff. Manufactured by Smith & Warren.
Reverse of 2" coin presented to families and district representatives at fallen staff ceremony on September 9, 2016. Co-designed by this curator and a PPSO Staffer, with input from other national administrative staff. Manufactured by Smith & Warren.
Actual photo of the first credential patch. Leather look and feel PVC based on a 1966 credential. After an approved donation is received, you will receive a Museum PVC CRED patch. This offer is valid while supplies last and only one patch per person.