Letcher County Sheriff's Office, Kentucky
End of Watch: Tuesday, January 30, 1900
Age: 44
Tour of Duty: 3 months
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: January 30, 1900
Weapon Used: Rifle; Winchester
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life
Deputy William Wright was shot and killed by two brothers as he was on his way to their home to arrest them. The brothers opened fire at the same time as the three met on the road, killing Deputy Wright instantly.
In 1902 both the Reynolds brothers were convicted of his murder during a heavily attended and highly emotional trial in Bell County and sentenced to life in prison. One was pardoned by Governor J.C.W. Beckham in 1905 and the other by Governor Augustus E. Wilson on January 1, 1909.
Deputy Wright's murder was the result of an ongoing feud between Deputy Wright's family and the Reynolds' family that started 18 years earlier and would go on for many more years.
Deputy Wright had served with the Letcher County Sheriff's Office for only three months. He was survived by his wife and 11 children. He was an ex-member of the Kentucky Legislature.
Deputy Wright's son, William Wright, was shot and killed in the line of duty on April 11, 1901, while also serving with the Letcher County Sheriff's Department as a result of this feud.
It is important to note that many feuds occurred in Kentucky, and often information about officers who lost their lives as a result of them is often confusing, contradictory, and refuted by others.