Deputy Sheriff L.C. Hilton, aged 33, of Polk County Sheriff's Office, North Carolina, was shot and killed on March 26, 1905. Hilton was shot by a man he had arrested for carrying concealed weapons. When the suspect was taken before a magistrate, he bolted from the deputy and escaped. Hilton pursued the suspect and fired at him, and the suspect returned fire, killing Hilton.
The suspect, a 19-year-old male, was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 14 years in prison in October 1905. He was later pardoned by Governor William W. Kitchen on April 18, 1912.
Hilton's death was a tragic incident that highlighted the dangers faced by law enforcement officers in the early 20th century. His dedication to his duty and his community is remembered and honored by those who knew him and by the Polk County Sheriff's Office.
