Deputy Sheriff George Ridgeway, aged 28, was shot and killed on December 5, 1910, in Snydertown, Pennsylvania. He was assigned to protect the belongings of a non-union miner who was moving from the Derry No. 1 mine to Snydertown. During the move, Ridgeway was confronted by several union members who attempted to stop the wagon. A struggle ensued, and one of the miners produced a gun and shot Ridgeway in the head, killing him instantly.
The man who shot Ridgeway fled to LaSalle, Illinois,
but was arrested in February 1911. He was extradited back to Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, where he was convicted of murder and sentenced to six years in prison. Deputy Sheriff Ridgeway was survived by his wife.
The incident occurred during a miner's strike at the Latrobe & Connellsville Coal Company, and it was part of a series of violent confrontations during that period. Two weeks after Ridgeway's murder, Deputy Sheriff Charles Davidson was struck and killed by a train while fleeing striking miners who were attempting to attack him near the same mine.
Ridgeway's death was a tragic event that highlighted the dangers faced by law enforcement officers during labor disputes in the early 20th century. His sacrifice is remembered and honored by those who continue to serve and protect communities today.
