Deputy Jailer Marvin Conover

Marvin Conover

Deputy Jailer Marvin Conover was shot and killed while assisting a deputy sheriff serve a warrant on a man for failure to appear in court.

When the two lawmen arrived at the man's home in the northern part of the county, it was beginning to get dark. After serving the warrant, they decided to stay the night at the man's home and to return to the courthouse in the morning.

At some point during the night, the man's brother came to his home and was informed that his brother was under arrest. The man's brother then told the lawmen they would not be allowed to leave with the man in custody.

When morning came, Deputy Jailer Conover, the deputy, and the prisoner started out for the courthouse. After taking a few steps from the home, the brother appeared from behind a large tree and shot Deputy Jailer Conover with a 12-gauge shotgun. The deputy sheriff returned fire as the prisoner and brother escaped into the woods.

The brother was arrested following a search by a well-known tracker. However, he escaped from jail but was arrested again in Tennessee. He was returned to Adair County where he was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life in prison. He became ill in prison and was released after serving only 18 years. He died a short time after being released.

Deputy Jailer Conover was buried in Haven Hill Cemetery.