Bio & Incident Details
Age: 64
Tour: Not available
Badge # Not available
Military veteran
Cause: Gunfire
Incident Date: 3/14/1912
Weapon: Handgun; .38 caliber
Suspect: Executed in 1913
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Sheriff Lewis Webb was shot and killed in the county courthouse by a band of approximately 20 mountaineers who were attempting to free a prisoner. The mountaineers, led by two brothers of the prisoner, had attended the court hearing armed with rifles and handguns.
As the judge read the sentence of one year at hard labor, the group opened fire on the courtroom, killing the judge, the prosecuting attorney, Sheriff Webb, one juror and one witness. Several jurors and observers were also wounded, as well as two suspects. Although the suspects fled back into the mountains, the prisoner they were attempting to free remained in custody after being wounded in the gunfire.
The prisoner and his son were convicted of Sheriff Webb's murder and were both executed in 1913. Seven additional suspects were apprehended: three were aquitted; two were pardoned in 1922; two were pardoned in 1926.
Sheriff Webb had previously served with the honor guard during the Civil War and was survived by his wife and three children. He is buried in Louis Webb Cemetery in Carroll County, Virginia.
