The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1922-03-09
GRAVES COUNTY
SHERIFF SLAIN
Shot Down without Warning by Deputy
Samuel Galloway.

John It. Roach. sheriff Of Graves
County was shot and killed In his Of
fee at the courthouse. in Mayfield. a
few minutes before II O'Clock Monday
by Samuel Galloway. deputy sheriff.
The sheriff was slain without IA chance
TO protect himself.
Galloway fired three shots, all of
which took effect i'm the shcriff-s body
The fatal shot struck him in the breast
near the heart. Doctors were rushed
to the scene. but the sheriff died Just
after noon, few minutes after they
arrived.
The sheriff's pistol was removed from
his pocket after his death. showing that
he had no chance to draw it, The
shooting was done so quickly that the
Sheriffs deputies who were in the Of
hce at the time had no chance To inter
fere. After the body of the sheriff was
removed the office was closed Blood
stains on the floor and the mark of
two bullets buried I'm the window still
remain to show where the tragedy oc-
CURED.
The motive for the shooting is n.
known. but IL is believed that there
had been trouble between them i'm re-
gard To GallOway's salary, according
TO the deputy sheriffs who were i'm the
office at the time of the shooting Neith-
er man seemed angry. and without any
warning Galloway walked over TO the
safe where his .45 Colt revolver was.
took Ii out and killed Sheriff Roach
He then said, according to witnesses.
he was going To kill Arthur Roach.
brother of the sheriff. who was in the
office. but evidently changed his mind.
He had started out the door when he
was arrested by Deputy Sheriffs Nor
man Carr and Joe Thomas He sur
rendered his gun to Carr, who carried
him To jail
Immediately following the shooting
hundreds of people gathered at the
courthouse. Only relatives and officials |
We're allowed I'm the sherifrs office. AT |
10 minutes after IL IL was announced |
that the sheriff was dead. Galloway is |
about p years old. He will soon be /
given trial, according to county Of
ficials
Circuit Court started in Mayfield
Monday bar was adjourned. and cannot
function unffi new sheriff and stan
ofncers are appointed. At present that
county Is without sheriff or deputy
as the tenure of office of each Of the
deputies came to an end with the
death of the sheriff
popular sheriffs ever elected in Graves
County. He was a member OF the Eiks
Lodge. the Masonic Lode and the Odd
Fellows. "A national guardsman COM
pnny was organized here several weeks
ago and he was made captain When |
the World War started he joined the
army as n private. but was promoted
to captain. He had served one term
In the Kentucky Legislature.
sheriff Roach was 30 years old and
leaves wife. three-year- old daughter
and five brothers. He had served only
two months OF his four year term In
office.
Samuel Galloway. slayer OF the sher-
IN. lives six miles south OF Mayfield.
He has a wife and one child. He served
In the marines during the war. where
AZ Is said he received a medal for mark
manship. Before the election CT the
sheriu last fall he announced he was
going TO run for the office but did not
do so. County Coroner o. NJ. Heritt
Is acting sheriff. County Judge j. w.
Monroe will appoint a successor 20 the
office. He has informed the Circuit
Judge that he will make the appoint
ment by Friday. The Mayfield Mes
senger seems 10 think that Mrs. John
Il. Roach VIII be appointed to the place
Il
handle the affairs as well as anyone.
The appointment will continue for a
year from next August. as that is the
next time state election will be held. |
As precaution against possible mob
violence. Galloway was taken to Padu-
cah late Monday afternoon and placed
In the McCracken County Jail On the
trip from Mayfeld TO Paducah he told
officers that Sheriff Roach had not
treated him fairly.
The Graves County Grand Jury, at
twelve o'clock Tuesday. exactly twenty
four hours after they had been en-
paneled. returned an indictment to the
circuit judge, IL being true bill against
Sam Galloway, charging him with the
murder OF Sheriff John II. Roach
The indictment, signed by the fore
man. declares that "Sam Galloway did
unlawfully- wilfully, maliciously and
feloniously. with pistol. and with
felonious and malicious intent. did shoot
and kill John II. Roach" The grand
jury. after handing the indictment to
Judge Hester, was adjourned by the
Judge until Monday week.