Polk County Sheriff's Office, Arkansas
End of Watch: Friday, May 24, 1918
Age: 49
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: May 24, 1918
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: One shot and killed; One executed
Deputy Sheriff Charles Kirkland was shot and killed during a gun battle with several men he attempted to arrest for refusing to register for the draft.
As he and a posse approached the suspect's cabin near Hatfield gunfire erupted from the windows. Deputy Kirkland was killed instantly and another officer was wounded. The posse returned fire killing one of the men.
Seven men were taken into custody and charged with Deputy Kirkland's murder. Six were convicted of murder. One was executed in the electric chair on August 24, 1918. Another was sentenced to life and the other four were sentenced to 16, 15, 10, and three years respectively.