In the late summer of 1914, the city of Anniston, Alabama, was rocked by a violent act that claimed the lives of two of its own. On the evening of Saturday, September 12, Police Officer J.W. Dashwood, a 45-year-old male, and his partner, Officer Will Dillard, were engaged in their duties to uphold the law. Their focus that night was an illegal liquor establishment operating out of a local residence.
As the two officers approached the home and began to ascend the front steps, their attempt to raid the illicit operation was met with sudden and deadly force.
From the shadows of the house, a suspect opened fire on the unsuspecting officers. Both Officer Dashwood and Officer Dillard were struck by the gunfire and tragically killed. The assailant, having committed the brazen act of murdering two law enforcement officers, immediately fled the scene, disappearing into the night. The sudden loss of two of its protectors sent a shockwave through the Anniston community.
The flight of the suspect was, however, short-lived. A swift and determined manhunt was launched by the Anniston Police Department, and their efforts quickly paid off. The individual responsible for the fatal shootings was apprehended a short time after the incident. Following his arrest, the suspect faced the full force of the justice system. He was subsequently convicted for the murders of both Officer Dashwood and Officer Dillard. The final chapter of this tragic event came to a close on June 25, 1915, when the convicted murderer was executed for his crimes.
