Sheriff Matt Wann

Matt Wann

Sheriff Wann was shot and killed while serving a warrant on a man at a residence near Scottsboro. As he handcuffed the man, the man's brother immediately picked up a shotgun and fired once, the full force striking the sheriff in the chest killing him instantly. The 20-year-old suspect disappeared forever.

On March 25, 1931, Sheriff Wann took a major role in saving the lives in of nine young black men who were accused of raping two white girls aboard a train. This became known as the famous "Scottsboro Boys Case". Sheriff Wann Stood inside his jail door and held off more than 100 members of the Ku Klux Klan who wanted to lynch the suspects. The next day he received the help of 25 armed national guardsmen who helped him subdue the mob.

To this day several leading citizens then and now say the Ku Klux Klan, and several law enforcement officials involved with them, had Sheriff Mann murdered in retaliation for the role he took in the Scottsboro Case. His murder case remains a mystery that Scottsboro citizens call one big conspiracy.

Sheriff Wann was survived by his wife and two children.