Wilson County District Four Constable's Office, Tennessee
End of Watch: Sunday, September 4, 1932
Age: 52
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: September 4, 1932
Weapon Used: Shotgun
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life
Deputy Constable Brown and Constable Ben Northern were shot and killed while attempting to arrest a youth who had been involved in a fight with another youth. When they arrived at the youth's home they encountered him sitting on the porch holding a shotgun. The boy complied with their order to put down the weapon. As Constable Northern bent down to pick up the shotgun someone inside of the home shot him with another shotgun. The original suspect attempted to flee but was caught by Deputy Constable Brown. As they started walking back towards the home Deputy Constable Brown was also shot and killed.
Constable Northern's son, who had accompanied them, ran to his father and was shot in his arm as he grabbed his father's revolver. He retreated and ran and notified the county sheriff and a deputy. The sheriff responded to the scene with deputies and discovered the suspects had barricaded themselves in the house. A shot of teargas resulted in the surrender of three men and two women. Because of lynching threats the three men were sent to the jail in Nashville.
Two male suspects, uncle and nephew ages 17 and 51, admitted that they shot both officers. Both were convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. The youth they were attempting to arrest was sentenced to 25 years. After a second trial in August of 1933, the 51-year-old suspect was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to three years. His nephew was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and sentenced to 12 years. The youth sentenced to 25 years was acquitted.
Deputy Constable Brown was survived by his wife and several children.