Bell County Sheriff's Department, Kentucky
End of Watch: Monday, September 12, 1921
Age:
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: September 12, 1921
Weapon Used: Rifle
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life
Deputy Sheriff Columbus Partin was shot and killed while participating in a liquor raid with deputies from Bell County, Knox County, and federal prohibition agents.
Two brothers were arrested and charged with his murder. They were subsequently convicted and sentenced to life in prison. A few days after their conviction they escaped from the county jail and remained at large for more than six years. They were captured in Oklahoma on December 10, 1927.
Deputy Partin, who was also a justice of the peace, had been sworn in as a deputy only six hours before being murdered.
Deputy Partin was survived by his wife and is buried in Chenoa Cemetery, Chenoa, Bell County, Kentucky.