Collector John Walter Hendrix, age 32, was a Deputy Collector for the United States Department of the Treasury - Office of Internal Revenue. On December 20, 1907, he was shot and killed near Smithtown, North Carolina, while attempting to destroy an illegal still he had discovered in Stokes County. Hendrix was part of a larger group of 16 officers who were searching for moonshiners in the region, but he had become separated from the group.
While destroying the still, Hendrix was fired upon by two individuals. These individuals were later charged with conspiracy to commit murder, but they were acquitted of the murder charges. However, they were convicted of distilling and tax evasion charges and were sentenced to three years in prison. Hendrix was survived by his parents and two sisters.
The incident highlights the dangers faced by law enforcement officers during the Prohibition era, as they often encountered armed resistance while attempting to enforce alcohol control laws. Hendrix's death was a tragic example of the risks associated with such enforcement activities.
