Thomas James Smith, also known as Tom "Bear River" Smith, (June 12, 1830 – November 2, 1870) was a lawman in the American Old West and briefly marshal of cattle town Abilene, Kansas. He was killed and nearly decapitated in the line of duty. Early life Little is known of Smith's youth, though he was well known as a tough man and had been a professional middleweight boxer. Originally from New York City, where he worked as a police officer, he also served as a lawman in a few small towns in Wyoming, including Bear River, as well as in Kit Carson, Colorado, prior to his move to Kansas. While working as a police officer in New York City in 1868, Smith was involved in the accidental killing of a 14-year-old boy, after which he resigned and began working for Union Pacific Railroad in Nebraska. Smith received the nickname "Bear River" due to a stand he made during a skirmish with vigilantes while serving as a lawman in Wyoming. A vigilante group had lynched a railroad employee who was suspected of murder. Soon afterward, railroad employees retaliated against the vigilantes, resulting in most of the small town of Bear River City, Wyoming, being burned to the ground, and a shootout between town citizens and mob members erupted. Smith stood both sides off until troops from Fort Bridger arrived and imposed martial law. Bear River City soon became deserted, another railroad ghost town. Smith has been described as having been a handsome man with a thick mustache and an almost fearless nature. There are a number of examples of Smith refusing to back down, despite whatever odds might be against him. Marshal of Abilene Prior to Smith's appointment as Abilene marshal, two St. Louis, Missouri, policemen had been hired. The town of Abilene was, at the time, a wild cattle town, and the crime rate had increased almost overnight, beginning in 1867, to the point where murder and shootings were commonplace. The town had numerous saloons and brothels, and up until that point a police force was all but nonexistent. The two St. Louis lawmen resigned before their first day of service was complete. The mayor of Abilene, Theodore Henry, sent for Smith in late 1869, who came highly recommended due to a reputation he had built while working alongside lawman Pat Desmond in Kit Carson, Colorado. Smith was also commissioned