In the late summer of 1938, a dedicated lawman, Deputy Sheriff Goode King Tait, a 34-year-old male, met a tragic and untimely end in the wooded terrain of Wilcox County, Alabama. His death on Thursday, September 8, 1938, was not the result of an unfortunate accident but came from a fatal encounter with a suspect he was actively pursuing. The events unfolded as Deputy Tait, in the line of duty, ventured into a dense, wooded area in pursuit of an individual who was evading the law.
It was within this secluded and dangerous environment that the suspect, armed with a gun, fired upon the deputy, inflicting a mortal wound.
The news of Deputy Tait's death sent shockwaves through the community and galvanized a swift response from law enforcement and local citizens. A posse was quickly formed to track down the individual responsible for the death of the deputy. For three days, the search for the suspect continued, undoubtedly fueled by a collective sense of grief and a determination to see justice served. The manhunt concluded near Selma, Alabama, when the posse located the suspect. In the ensuing confrontation, the suspect was shot and killed, bringing a final and violent end to the search. As the sole suspect was killed during this encounter, there were no arrests made, and consequently, no trial or conviction for the death of Deputy Sheriff Goode King Tait.
