Yadkin County Sheriff's Office, North Carolina
End of Watch: Friday, February 13, 1920
Age: 54
Tour of Duty: 5 years, 2 months
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: February 13, 1920
Weapon Used: Handgun; Revolver
Suspect Info: Paroled in 1931
Sheriff J.E. Zachary was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man at an illegal whiskey still.
Assisted by a volunteer baptist minister, Rev. T. A. Caudle, Sheriff Zachary investigated a report of an illegal still in southeast Yadkin County. Robah Augustus Baity, Spencer Lee McNeil, and Jim Brown were found at the illegal distillery. During an altercation, Zachary grabbed Baity and McNeil by the coat lapels. Baity pulled an Iver Johnson .38 revolver and shot Zachary, instantly killing him. Spencer and Brown ran from the scene but were later captured.
The suspect was apprehended and sentenced to death but the North Carolina governor later commuted the sentence to 30 years in prison. He was paroled October 20, 1931.
Sheriff Zachary was survived by his wife and son.