Clay County Sheriff's Office, Kentucky
End of Watch: Friday, May 25, 1900
Age:
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: May 19, 1900
Weapon Used: Handgun; .45 caliber
Suspect Info: Sentenced to 14 years
Deputy Felix Davidson succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained one week earlier while attempting to arrest a man who had been in town with his gun.
The suspect shot Deputy Davidson once in the chest, causing a serious wound. The man then turned himself in to the county jailer. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to 14 years. The suspect, Millard Philpot, was pardoned by the governor after serving only a few months. He was later elected sheriff of Clay County. He was shot and killed February 1, 1920.
Deputy Davidson died as a result of the Philpot-Griffin Feud. There were many feuds in Kentucky, and information about many officers who lost there lives as a result of a feud was often confusing, contradictory, and refuted by others.