In the line of duty, Special Agent William Milton Pugh, a 49-year-old male, met an untimely and violent end on November 21, 1941, near Dyersburg, Tennessee. While investigating an illicit liquor operation, Pugh and his partner, Special Agent James Howes, discovered a still. Unbeknownst to them, the operator of the still, Clyde Arwood, lay in ambush, ready to defend his illegal enterprise with lethal force.
As the agents proceeded with the seizure, Arwood opened fire with a shotgun,
striking and killing Agent Pugh. In the ensuing chaos, Arwood also attempted to shoot Agent Howes, but fortunately, the second shot missed its mark. The brazen attack cut short the life of a dedicated law enforcement officer and set in motion a determined effort to bring his killer to justice.
The investigation into Agent Pugh's murder quickly led to the identification and arrest of Clyde Arwood. His subsequent trial resulted in a conviction for the murder of the federal agent. The court handed down the ultimate penalty for his crime. Arwood's violent history was not limited to this single act; he had a prior conviction for the murder of a deputy sheriff. For the killing of Special Agent William Milton Pugh, Clyde Arwood was executed, marking a grim end to a violent criminal history.
