Anderson County Sheriff's Department, Texas
End of Watch: Wednesday, October 15, 1913
Age: 34
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: October 15, 1913
Weapon Used: Handgun
Suspect Info: acquitted
Around noon, John T. Groves was in Opperman's Saloon in Palestine, where for no apparent reason, Groves severely cut a Mr. McCullough. Groves then left the saloon. Policeman W. M. Micheaux notified Deputy Sheriff Charles Ledwith of the assault. Deputy Ledwith went to Groves' residence to make the arrest. Groves shot and killed the deputy on the front porch. The medical report stated the deputy was shot in the back. Groves was arrested and charged with murder of Ledwith and assault to murder of McCullough. On January 10, 1914, Groves was found not guilty of murder and the assault to murder charge was dismissed two weeks later.
Deputy Ledwith was survived by his mother, father and a brother. He was buried in the Jasper City Cemetery in Jasper County.