Sheriff Thomas Wiley Camp, Campbell County Sheriff's Office, Georgia

Sheriff Thomas Wiley Camp

Campbell County Sheriff's Office, Georgia

End of Watch Friday, April 3, 1931

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Thomas Wiley Camp

Sheriff Thomas Camp was shot and killed by a prisoner in the Campbell County Courthouse while awaiting transfer to the county jail.

The prisoner suddenly tried to run for the door but was grabbed by Sheriff Camp. A struggle ensued in which the prisoner gained control of Sheriff Camp's service revolver and then fatally shot him. The man fled into a nearby swamp where he was surrounded by a posse of citizens and captured a few hours later.

It was later discovered that the suspect had recently escaped from a Morgan County, Georgia, chain gang where he was serving a 20 year sentence for murder. He was convicted of Sheriff Camp's murder, sentenced to death, and executed in the electric chair on May 18, 1931.

Campbell County was annexed by Fulton County at the end of 1931.

Sheriff Camp was survived by his wife. Sheriff Camp's wife was appointed to serve the rest of his term as sheriff.

Bio

Age 48
Tour Not available
Badge Not available

Incident Details

Cause Gunfire
Weapon Officer's handgun
Offender executed in 1931

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Thomas (Tom) Camp was my maternal grandfather. When my grandmother, Lula Duggan Camp, became Sheriff, she was the first woman sheriff in the State of Georgia. She served a very brief time, only until an election could be held for a new Sheriff. She chose not to run for the position. Both are buried in the City if Fairburn, GA, cemetery. The Old Campbell County Historical Society placed a plaque on my grandmother's grave stating that she was the first woman sheriff in Georgia.

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Granddaughter of Sheriff Camp

January 29, 2016