Edgefield County Sheriff's Department, South Carolina
End of Watch: Sunday, November 16, 1941
Age: 55
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: November 16, 1941
Weapon Used: Shotgun
Suspect Info: Executed in 1943
Sheriff Wad Allen was shot and killed, and Deputy Sheriff William Clark was shot and fatally wounded when they attempted to arrest a man, and his wife wanted in a contract killing.
When Sheriff Allen and Deputy Clark arrived at the couple's home, they were ambushed by them and shot. Sheriff Allen was killed instantly. Deputy Clark died two days later.
Both suspects and a third man involved in the contract killing were arrested and executed in the electric chair on January 15, 1943.
Deputy Clark's brother, the ex-sheriff of Edgefield County, was appointed to succeed Sheriff Allen.
Sheriff Allen was a United States Army veteran. He was survived by his wife, son, and brother.