In the small town of Statham, Georgia, a tragic event unfolded on the first of February in 1907, forever marking the community. James Hammond, a White male, was serving as the town marshal. On that fateful day, he was called to the railroad depot to handle a disturbance. Upon arrival, he found Will Bolton intoxicated and on the railroad tracks. Hammond, in the line of his duty, attempted to remove Bolton from the dangerous situation.
The encounter took a deadly turn when Bolton, in his
inebriated state, resisted the marshal's efforts. He produced a firearm and discharged it twice in Hammond's direction. While one of the bullets missed its mark, the other struck Marshal Hammond squarely in the chest. The shot proved to be instantly fatal, piercing his heart and ending his life on the spot. The sudden and violent death of the 37-year-old lawman sent shockwaves through the quiet town.
In the aftermath of the shooting, a manhunt for Will Bolton was launched. His flight from justice was short-lived, as authorities successfully located and apprehended him a couple of days following the incident. Bolton was taken into custody and subsequently faced legal proceedings for the murder of Marshal James Hammond. He was tried for the crime in Jackson County, as Statham was part of that county at the time. In recognition of his ultimate sacrifice, the Statham City Council later designated February 1st of each year as Marshal James Hammond Day.
