Phelps Police Department, Kentucky
End of Watch: Tuesday, October 27, 1936
Age: 48
Tour of Duty: 3 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: October 25, 1936
Weapon Used: Handgun
Suspect Info: Shot and killed
Marshal Meredith Wolford succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained two days earlier while attempting to arrest a county constable.
The constable had become upset because Marshal Meredith had arrested one of his friends the previous night. Upon speaking with the constable, Marshal Wolford became fearful for his life and returned to town. He deputized a citizen and then returned to the constable's location to arrest him. As they approached, the constable opened fire, fatally wounding Marshal Wolford. The constable was also fatally shot during the battle.
Marshal Wolford was taken to a hospital in Matewan, West Virginia, where he died two days later.