In the line of duty, Lee County Sheriff William Samuel 'Buck' Jones, a 60-year-old male, met a tragic end on June 29, 1932. The day's events began to unfold when Sheriff Jones, accompanied by a deputized citizen, responded to a call concerning Charles Green Miller. Miller had reportedly shot at his brother-in-law and his wife, injuring their hands. When Sheriff Jones arrived at Miller's residence and attempted to enter through the front door, he was met with a fatal shotgun blast. Miller, it was later said, mistook the sheriff for someone else.
Immediately after firing the shot, a sense of dreadful realization seemed to fall upon Miller, who was heard exclaiming, “Oh, Mr. Buck. I didn't know it was you.” With those words, he fled the scene, carrying his shotgun with him. The news of the sheriff's death spread rapidly, and a posse of officers and local citizens quickly formed to hunt for Miller. The search was intense but brief. Within two hours, the group located Miller hiding in a nearby cornfield.
There, in the rustling rows of corn, justice took a swift and brutal form. The posse shot Miller numerous times. His body was then brought back to the city and put on public display on the courthouse lawn, attracting a large crowd. This act of extralegal vengeance marked the final, grim chapter in the day's violent events. Sheriff Jones, who was serving his first term, was survived by his wife and three daughters.
