Frederick County Sheriff's Office, Virginia
End of Watch: Sunday, February 13, 1938
Age:
Tour of Duty: 11 months
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: February 13, 1938
Weapon Used: Shotgun
Suspect Info: Executed in 1938
Sheriff James Newcome was shot and killed while serving a warrant on a man for trying to sell sheep that had a levy imposed on them.
Sheriff Newcome and two officers from the Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles went to the man's home near the Great North Mountain. The man's son answered the door before the man suddenly opened fire with a shotgun, killing Sheriff Newcome. The man also shot and wounded one of the state officers before fleeing into the mountain woods. The subject was taken into custody after his dog led a posse to where he was hiding in the nearby hills.
The man was charged with murder in connection with the incident and sentenced to death. He was executed in the electric chair on November 25th, 1938.
Sheriff Newcome had served with the Frederick County Sheriff's Office for nearly one year.