D. Joseph Nichols, a 44-year-old deputy sheriff of the Orange County Sheriff's Office in North Carolina, was shot and killed on September 9, 1904, near Hillsborough. Nichols was attempting to serve a warrant on James Knapp Horner, a 58-year-old man accused of whipping his daughter-in-law. Horner had previously been arrested by Nichols and had vowed to kill the deputy if he ever tried to arrest him again.
On the day of the incident, Nichols was shot in the arm while serving the warrant.
Despite efforts to stop the bleeding, an artery had been severed, and Nichols knew he was going to die. He expressed a desire to see his children one last time, but he passed away before reaching his home at the Caldwell Institute. A posse was quickly formed, and Horner was captured on September 12, 1904. During his capture, Horner was shot in the right side, but the wounds were not fatal.
Horner was held in the Orange County jail overnight due to concerns that his friends might attempt to rescue him. The next day, he was transferred to Durham to await trial. In 1905, Horner was tried and convicted of second-degree murder. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison.
D. Joseph Nichols, often referred to as Deputy Joe Nichols, was a native of Orange County. He was born on January 5, 1860, to William Allen Nichols and Martha E. Nichols. Nichols had 11 siblings, and at the time of his death, nine of them were still alive. Nichols was married to Pattie Martha Miller, and they had three daughters: Lois Estelle Nichols Tilley, Mary Frances Garris, and Claudia Ethel Nichols.
The tragic death of Deputy Nichols left a lasting impact on the community and his family. His name was added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington D.C. in 2022, nearly 118 years after his death. This recognition honored his sacrifice and service to the citizens of Orange County.
