In the winter of 1893, in a rural area eight miles east of Guntersville, Alabama, a routine civil matter tragically escalated into the untimely death of Constable James S. Childress. On Thursday, December 14, the 42-year-old male lawman rode out to serve legal papers. As he dismounted his horse to carry out his duty, he was met with sudden and fatal violence.
The subject of the civil suit, a 38-year-old man, opened fire on Constable Childress with a shotgun, killing him.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, the assailant fled the area, managing to evade capture for several years. His flight from justice eventually led him to Texas, where he was located and apprehended in March of 1897.
Following his arrest, the suspect was returned to Alabama to face charges for the death of Constable Childress. He was charged with murder, but on February 11, 1898, he was convicted of the lesser charge of manslaughter. The court sentenced him to a term of three years in prison for the killing. He was subsequently released from custody on July 11, 1900.
