Deputy Sheriff Willie James Lewis, Sr.

Willie James Lewis, Sr.

Deputy Sheriff Willie Lewis was shot and killed from ambush near his home by two brothers in retaliation for an earlier incident.

Six weeks earlier one of the suspects and three other men were drunk and causing a disturbance in Hyden. One of the men had recently been acquitted of the murder of Deputy Sheriff Sam Fields, of the Perry County Sheriff's Office, on November 10th, 1956. Deputy Lewis shot and killed Deputy Fields' killer as the Leslie County Sheriff was trying to wrestle a gun from him.

The suspects, ages 18 and 20, were arrested and charged with murder. The subject who shot him was found not guilty.

Deputy Lewis had served with the Leslie County Sheriff's Office for five years. He was survived by his wife and eight children.