In the summer of 1905, a dedicated lawman named Dolphus Simeon Putman, a male Deputy Constable with the Jefferson County Constable's Office, met a violent and untimely end. His death occurred on July 15, 1905, in the mining community near Littleton, Alabama, a place bustling with the activity of the Banner mines. Putman, who was born on October 30, 1881, was attempting to serve a misdemeanor warrant for the use of abusive language.
The suspect he sought to bring to justice had reportedly
returned to the area, and Deputy Constable Putman was notified of his presence. Upon locating the man, a tense confrontation escalated into a physical struggle. In the ensuing chaos, the suspect managed to gain control of Putman's own revolver and tragically shot the deputy constable in the head. Despite the mortal wound, Putman, in his final moments, demonstrated incredible resolve. He managed to fire his weapon, striking his assailant.
The suspect, whose identity is not widely documented in historical records, was mortally wounded by the shot fired by Deputy Constable Putman. He was taken to a nearby hospital but succumbed to his injuries a week later. This brought a swift and fatal conclusion to the question of arrest and trial, as the sole suspect in the murder of Deputy Constable Dolphus Simeon Putman was killed at the scene of the crime by the very officer he had just slain.
Dolphus Simeon Putman's life was cut short, leaving behind his wife, Delia Vandever, whom he had married on September 6, 1903, and their only son, Paul. In the wake of this tragedy, Delia and young Paul went to live with her family. The story of Deputy Constable Putman's death is a stark reminder of the dangers faced by law enforcement officers, even in what might have seemed like a routine duty. His heroic final act, ensuring his attacker could not harm anyone else, remains a poignant part of his legacy.
