Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, Alabama
End of Watch: Tuesday, July 24, 1894
Age:
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: July 24, 1894
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Charges dismissed
Deputy Smith and Deputy Charles Cole were shot and killed while attempting to serve warrants on a father and son involved in a previous murder. When the two deputies approached the family's home the suspects opened fire, killing both deputies. The previous murder was on July 15 at the strike where Jefferson County Deputy Sheriff B. W. Pearce was killed.
Both suspects fled into nearby hills where the father was located by a posse. He was later tried for murder and acquitted. The son gave himself up to the Birmingham Police on May 7, 1897. In 1898 the charges were dismissed due to insufficient evidence.