law enforcement Archives - Appalachian History

The most celebrated criminal case of this section

It was peculiar not so much on account of the crime as it was because of the unheard-of conduct of the sheriff and prisoner after conviction.

He hiked without care through the lawless back country of Mitchell County. His tweeds & mahogany cane telegraphed ‘revenuer’ to moonshiners.

A drunken man goes on a wild shoot ’em up in Norton. Deputy policeman comes after him. Twice. Sadly, drunken man has friends in high places.

Jenny Cooper didn’t believe folks who said her grandfather & his kinsman killed each other in a feud. Now he’s honored as a fallen officer.