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Deputy Sheriff R. Benton Woods | Emanuel County Sheriff's Office, Georgia
Emanuel County Sheriff's Office, Georgia

Deputy Sheriff

R. Benton Woods

Emanuel County Sheriff's Office, Georgia

End of Watch: Saturday, May 13, 1911

Biographical Info

Age:
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details

Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: May 13, 1911
Weapon Used: Handgun; Pistol
Suspect Info: Lynched

Deputy Sheriff Benton Woods was shot and killed in Swainsboro by a man in the custody of the city marshal.

The marshal and his prisoner were on the way to the jail when the prisoner suddenly produced a pistol and shot Deputy Woods as he approached them. A gunfight followed in which the suspect was shot three times and another man was kllled. The next day a mob of more than 100 armed men broke into the jail, seized the suspect, hanged him from the nearest tree, and riddled his body with bullets.