Anniversary of 1928 Deputy Killed

The Bartow County Sheriff's Office remembers Deputy William Jasper Vaughan on the anniversary of his line of duty death September 20, 1928.

There are numerous media reports from 1928 recounting the events leading to the first known line of duty death for the Bartow County Sheriff's Office.  It began when two men entered Sodie Collum's store located south of Emerson between 8pm and 9pm. That day was a Thursday. The two men wanted to purchase items and presented Collum with a $20 bill, which Collum immediately recognized as counterfeit. Getting "the draw" on the two by pulling out his own gun, Collum sent a family member to Acworth, which was the nearest phone station at the time to call the Bartow County Sheriff George W. Gaddis. A little less than an hour later, Sheriff Gaddis and Deputy Vaughan arrived. At their arrival, a scuffle inside the store broke out as the two offenders disarmed Collum. Deputy Vaughan was reported to have entered the store first, and upon doing so, one of the offenders fired six shots hitting him with at least one fatally.

Sheriff Gaddis returned fire and believed he hit one of the offenders as they fled in a vehicle. Sheriff Gaddis called for doctors and Tanner Lowry and Sam Howell responded, but Vaughan could not be saved. A Sheriff's Posse was organized and evidence was found including the get-away car about 2 miles North of the scene. Evidence was recovered that would later aid the Sheriff in his investigation. The next day, two men were arrested in Dalton who matched the description of the two offenders. Sheriff Gaddis and Mr. Collum went to Dalton and identified the men as the offenders. These two men, brothers Harless and Hartsell Grant were taken to Fulton County to be held.

But, the story was not as clear as it seemed. Sheriff Gaddis and Solicitor General J.M. Neel Jr. continued the investigation and determined that the Grant brothers were not the offenders. The investigation revealed that Reese and Raymond Fisher were the two offenders and witnesses were interviewed who had direct knowledge of the crimes. A lookout was issued in Atlanta in October 1928 by Sheriff Gaddis describing the Fishers and offering a reward for their capture.

Deputy Vaughan was laid to rest after a funeral service held at White United Methodist Church where it was reported that more than 2,000 people were in attendance. Deputy Vaughan had a large family, and many of his descendants still call this area home.

More research is being conducted to determine the fate of the Grant brothers and the Fisher brothers. The Bartow County Sheriff's Office is planning to honor Deputy Vaughan with a permanent memorial later this year and is eternally thankful to him for his sacrifice to our great community. He will not be forgotten.