Tate County Sheriff's Office, Mississippi
End of Watch: Wednesday, April 12, 1905
Age: 47
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: April 12, 1905
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Charged with murder
Sheriff John Poag was shot and killed by a mob of masked men who entered his jail for the purpose of liberating a murder suspect. The sheriff's order that the men leave was met with a refusal, whereupon Sheriff Poag fired, wounding one man. The mob returned fire killing the sheriff, and then left without the prisoner.
Eventually 13 men were charged with Sheriff Poag's murder. Newspapers of that day reported that most if not all escaped punishment.