On March 3, 1923, Deputies Wiley Pierce (age 42) and Robert Crain (age 35) were shot and killed while attempting to arrest two men for making moonshine.
It is believed that upon finding the still, the deputies dismounted, tied their horses, and began to dismantle the still equipment. However, two men engaged in the illegal moonshine operation were watching nearby and opened fire, killing both deputies. The suspects attempted to hide the bodies in the swamp.
Of the two men involved, one, John Murphy, was executed by hanging at a public execution held in Franklinton; and the other, Gideon Rester was given a life term at the state penitentiary. There he perished in a battle with prison inmates. Deputy Pierce was survived by his wife and six children and Deputy Crain was survived by his wife and four children.
Sheriff Seal stated, “Every law enforcement officer that died in the line of duty should be remembered and documented like this for all time. It is true what the Bible says in John 15:13 that Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
(We apologize for missing this on March 3rd)
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