In the town of Summit, Mississippi, a violent encounter cut short the life of Town Marshal Thadeaus Benton Gillis, a male veteran of the Confederate Army who had served with the 22nd Mississippi Infantry. After the Civil War, he dedicated two decades to the Summit Police Department, where he was known for his commitment to upholding the law.
On that fateful day, Marshal Gillis was inside the Hyman Mercantile on Robb Street around 1:30 in the afternoon.
His attention was drawn to two intoxicated men who were using profane language. As a peace officer, he approached them and remonstrated them for their behavior. The situation quickly escalated when one of the men slapped Gillis across the face. Seizing the opportunity created by the physical altercation, the second man grabbed a shotgun that was on a nearby counter. He then fired a single, fatal shot to the back of Marshal Gillis's head, causing his instant death.
In the aftermath of the shooting, both of the men responsible for the marshal's death were apprehended by law enforcement. They were subsequently tried and convicted for the murder of Thadeaus Benton Gillis and were both sentenced to life in prison for their crime. However, the story did not end there. The man who pulled the trigger, a 25-year-old from a prominent family, was later granted a pardon by Governor James K. Vardaman on January 22, 1908, securing his release from prison.
