In the small community of Lee City, Kentucky, a tragic event unfolded that led to the death of Deputy Sheriff William F. Clair. The 39-year-old lawman succumbed to gunshot wounds he sustained five days earlier while attempting to perform his duties. The incident that led to his fatal injuries occurred when he was trying to arrest his own brother.
The brother had reportedly been involved in a stabbing, and Deputy Clair was dispatched to take him into custody.
During the attempt to make the arrest, his brother shot him. The wounds proved to be fatal, and Deputy Sheriff Clair passed away on Thursday, February 9, 1911.
Following the shooting, the brother who fired the shots was charged with murder. However, the case against him was ultimately dismissed in January of the following year, 1912. Deputy Sheriff William F. Clair was survived by his wife. The event left a lasting mark on the community and the history of the Wolfe County Sheriff's Office.
