United States Department of the Treasury - United States Customs Service, U.S. Government
End of Watch: Thursday, January 7, 1937
Age: 48
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Automobile crash
Date of Incident: January 7, 1937
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Inspector Lewis Highsmith and Investigator William Butler, of the Internal Revenue Service - Alcohol Tax Unit, were killed in an automobile accident while traveling on official business from Wilmington to Raleigh, North Carolina.
As they approached the Black Lake Bridge, on Highway 301, the steering mechanism of their car failed and struck an abutment wall. Investigator Butler and Inspector Highsmith were both killed on impact.
Inspector Highsmith was survived by his wife.