Edgefield County Sheriff's Department, South Carolina
End of Watch: Tuesday, November 18, 1941
Age: 50
Tour of Duty: 25 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: November 16, 1941
Weapon Used: Shotgun
Suspect Info: Executed in 1943
Deputy Sheriff William Clark was shot and fatally wounded and Sheriff Ward Allen was shot and killed when they attempted to arrest a man and his wife wanted in a contract killing. When Deputy Clark and Sheriff Allen arrived at the couples home they were ambushed by them and shot. Sheriff Allen was killed instantly. Deputy Clark died two days later.
Both suspects, along with a third man who was involved in the contract killing, were arrested and executed in the electric chair January 15, 1943.
Deputy Clark had served with the Edgefield County Sheriff's Department for 25 years and was survived by his wife and four children. His brother, the ex-sheriff of Edgefield County, was appointed to succeed Sheriff Allen.