Marshal Asa T. Pettit

Asa T. Pettit

Marshal Asa Pettit was shot and killed as he and two other men attempted to arrest five drunkards who had come into town and started firing their guns in the air.

As the officers approached, the men opened fire, killing Marshal Pettit. The other two officers retreated and returned to town to obtain reinforcements.

One suspect fled the scene, but the other four suspects were arrested. Two weeks later a mob took the suspected killer from the county jail, put a rope around his neck, and drug him to a nearby creek where he was drowned. The same day the one who fled was apprehended in Lexington. All four were convicted of murder and sentenced to life. One was paroled on August 3, 1922.