In the winter of 1910, a male deputy sheriff by the name of Crit Bryant, age 58, lost his life in the line of duty in Jellico, Tennessee. On Saturday, December 3rd, Deputy Bryant encountered a man who had been drinking and was causing a disturbance by firing a gun as he walked along the railroad tracks heading towards Saxton.
While attempting to arrest the disorderly man, Deputy Bryant was shot twice. The wounds proved to be fatal.
He was carried to his brother's home in Jellico, where he succumbed to his injuries. He was survived by his wife, two sons, and three daughters.
In the aftermath of the shooting, the Jellico marshal quickly formed a posse to track down the suspect. They located him near Saxton, but the man refused to surrender peacefully. He fired upon the posse, wounding one of its members. The Jellico marshal returned fire, killing the suspect at the scene.
