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U.S. Marshals Service: Historical Perspective
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  U.S. Marshals and the Moonshine War 1872-1913:

 

 

  

"Of all the duties in this country, that of U. S. Marshal is the most dangerous and onerous. The people of the neighboring counties seem to have the idea that the chief use of any officer of the law is to afford a target for their rifles and pistols, and we too well know how many United States officers have fallen victims to duty. "


-- Springfield, Missouri, Advertiser, May 1876 

 

 1888 Reward poster for arrest and conviction of murderers of deputies

Partial List of Deputy Marshals Killed During the Moonshine War

Name Date District Remarks
Madison F. Mitchell 6/28/1872 SC Ambushed while escorting moonshiners
to jail.
 ____ Burns 4/13/1874 W/NC Shot in the back from ambush.
Horace Metcalf 8/22/1874 W/MO Killed arresting moonshiner.
George Ellis (Bailiff) 12/10/1877 W/KY Killed in shoot-out with moonshiner, who was also killed.
Van B. Hendrix 12/31/1877 SC Shot during arrest of moonshiner.
Alfred McCreory 6/1877 SC Killed in revenge for moonshine raid.
James Letford 6/1877 SC Killed in revenge for moonshine raid.
Rufus H. Springs 4/19/1878 SC Ambushed during moonshine raid.
W.L. Miller 7/16/1885 M/TN Killed by moonshiners who hid his body
in the mountains. The body was not
found for several weeks.
Miller Hurst 10/1101885 M/TN Ambushed while taking a moonshiner
to jail.
Thomas Goodson 12/01/1888 E/TN Ambushed and shot twice in the head.
Sam Hughes 8/21/1889 E/TN Killed while arresting two moonshiners.
C.K. Stuart 3/04/1892 ETN Killed during prison rescue attempt by moonshiners.
James Ballinger 10/17/1892 M/TN Ambushed during moonshine raid.
C.B. Brockus 2/14/1893 W/NC Killed during prison rescue attempt.
John D. Kirby 3/06/1896 SC Shot in back of head during prison
rescue attempt.
B.F. Taylor 8/29/1897 E/AR Killed during moonshine raid.
Joe M. Dodson 8/29/1897 E/AR Killed during moonshine raid.
John C. Mullins 12/25/1908 E/KY Killed while arresting moonshiner.
John Sloan 5/05/1913 E/KY Killed while arresting moonshiner.
Marion Ramey 5/05/1913 E/KY Killed while arresting moonshiner.


Deputy Returning Fire on Moonshiners
Source: George Atkinson, After the Moonshiners

Raiding Party of Deputies and Internal Revenue Agents
Source: George Atkinson, After the Moonshiners
 
 

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