Francis Dargus was born July 2, 1896, at Pittston, Pennsylvania.
He enlisted with the Constabulary on October 1, 1917, and was assigned to Troop A,
Greensburg. At the time of enlistment, he resided at 28 Market Street, Inkerman.
On May 31, 1918, Dargus, Sergeant Homer Chambers and Fayette County Detective
Smith were detailed to arrest Walter Richardson. Richardson, a fugitive murderer wanted
in Pennsylvania, was in Struthers, Mahoning County, Ohio, 4½ miles west of the
Pennsylvania/Ohio border.
Dargus ascended the porch of the home Richardson was occupying and entered the
house. As he ascended the stairs to the second floor, he was shot twice by
Richardson. He died immediately.
His body was shipped by rail from Youngstown, Ohio, to Pittston, accompanied
by Private Bennett.
Dargus was buried in St. Casimir’s Cemetery, Pittston, on June 4, 1918,
with military honors. His fellow Troopers served as pallbearers. A large crowd
attended the funeral.
Dargus, 21, had completed eight months of Constabulary service.
He was survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Michael Dargus, of Inkerman, two sisters, Mrs.
John Kasacavicz and Julia Dargus, and three brothers, Bernard, Alex, and Joseph Dargus.
