History: Covington Police Department

Harvey Hake was the Marshall for the Village of Covington from 1901-1917. Hake was shot and killed by Albert Warren (alias Bert Clark) on January 11, 1917 in a pool room. Warren was convicted of the murder and executed in the electric chair.

Police Officer bike When Covington was incorporated in 1835, law and order was conducted by what was called at the time the City Marshall. There were many Marshalls over the first fifteen years and only one man held the position for any length of time, that being Joseph Marlin who served for three years.

From 1851 until the end of turn of the century, there were 11 known City Marshalls. They were: Daniel Lehman (1851), C. B. Maury (1852), William Porter (1853), Jackson Shade (1854), David Diltz (1855,1856), Phil Hartzell (1857), B. Gilbens (1858), none available 1859 to 1871; Abraham Fisher (1872, 1873), George Speelman (1874, 1875, 1876-1878, 1880-1882), William Gavin (1878, 1879, 1884-1898), Jacob Tobias (1898-1900). In 1898-1900 William Gavin served as township constable. Harvey Hake was appointed Marshall and night watch in 1901.

At 11pm on Thursday, January 11, 1917, Hake was shot and killed by Albert Warren (alias Bert Clark) at the site of Weaver’s Barber Shop, which was at that time a pool room. Hake was shot while attempting to arrest Warren on an assault and battery charge filed by his wife. The coroner ‘viewed the body’ on January 12, officially announcing the death. Warren was convicted and died in the electric chair on Friday, June 22, 1917.

From The Star and Sentinel – Gettysburg, PA – Monday, January 15, 1917

Hake murder location This photo shows the location where Covington marshal Harvey Hake was murdered by Albert Warren (alias Bert Clark) on January 11, 1917.

Charged with the murder of Harvey J. Hake, Albert Warren, alias Bert Clark, was committed to jail in Troy, Ohio after being placed under arrest by a posse that pursued Clark to his home near Covington where he had fortified himself to resist their efforts.

The death of Mr. Hake occurred at 11:00 pm on Thursday night, January 11, 1917, and when first information was received it was believed it was due to natural causes. A dispatch in the city papers, however, on Saturday morning told of the dramatic surrender of the alleged murderer, who walked from his barricaded home with his baby in his arms and gave himself up to the police.

The coroner ‘viewed the body’ on January 12th, officially determining Hake was deceased from a “shot in right eye by Albert Clark (murderous intention)”.

Mr. Hake was village marshal of Covington, Ohio, where he has been a resident for many years since leaving Adams County more than thirty years ago. Clark was charged with some minor offense, which included an assault and battery charge filed by his wife, and Officer Hake went to arrest him. Clark resisted and in the encounter with the policeman brought a shot gun into play. Hake’s head was literally blown off by the charge of the gun.

When news of the death reached Covington residents, a posse set out to capture the suspect. Clark went into his home and barricading the place, he successfully resisted the attacking party the entire night. In the morning he walked out of his house, his baby in his arms and surrendered himself to police.

He was taken to Troy, about 20 miles away and a charge of murder was preferred against him.

Marshal Hake was a native of Adams County and was a brother of Mrs. Edwards S. Faber and Mrs. Murray Seads, both of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. He left Gettysburg 37 years ago and for a lengthy period has been marshal at Covington, where he leaves behind a widow and two children. He was a son of the late James and Martha Hake of near Gettysburg. The funeral and interment will occur in Covington, Ohio.

From 1901 to 1941, three individuals were City Marshalls; Harvey Hake (1901-1917), Charles Green (1919-1929) and Frank O’Roark (1926-1941). There was no known Marshall until Jim Rice became the Police Chief in 1948. Rice held this position until 1960 and since the Covington Police Chiefs have been Norman Miller (1960-1977), Bill Ray (1977-1979), Pat Thomas (1979-1980), Norman Swartz (1980-1987), Larry Earick (1987-1994), Rick Wright (1994-2002), Lee Harmon (2002-2023), and Tim Cline (2024-Present).