On a cold Christmas Day in 1905, in the small community of Big Fork, about 20 miles from Hyden, Kentucky, Deputy Sheriff Mack Roberts, a male, was killed. His death was not the result of a direct act against him as a lawman, but rather a tragic consequence of a dispute that spiraled out of control at a local holiday gathering.
A turkey shooting match, a common festive event in the region, was underway when an argument broke out among several men.
The disagreement quickly escalated into a gun battle, a grim reflection of the often-violent nature of disputes in early 20th-century Kentucky. During this exchange of gunfire, one of the men involved in the altercation was shot and killed.
As this man fell to the ground, his pistol slipped from his grasp. The impact of the weapon hitting the earth caused it to discharge one final, fatal shot. This errant bullet struck Deputy Roberts, who was standing nearby, likely in an attempt to restore order or simply as a bystander to the sudden violence. He was killed instantly. The death of Deputy Roberts was officially recorded as an inadvertent shooting, a tragic accident born from the intentional violence of others. There is no available information detailing any arrests or identifying any suspects in the initial gunfight that ultimately led to the deputy's untimely death. Details regarding his age and ethnicity are not available in the online sources.
