Sheriff Lewis Palmer "Lew" Wallace

Lewis Palmer "Lew" Wallace

Sheriff Lew Wallace was shot and killed by a posseman after being mistaken for an armed subject.

A posse had been formed to search for a man who had stolen a car in Meeker. The posse had pursued the suspect into some heavy underbrush. As members of the posse followed the subject into the underbrush Sheriff Wallace attempted to flank him by going around the area.

As the posse came through the underbrush one of the men saw Sheriff Wallace and, believing he was the subject reaching for a gun, shot him in the chest with a shotgun.

Sheriff Wallace was transported to a hospital where he remained for three days until succumbing to the wound. Before passing away the sheriff pleaded that the posseman not be charged in connection with his death.

Sheriff Wallace had previously served in World War I with the United States Army and is buried in New Hope Cemetery in Meeker, Oklahoma.