In the summer of 1922, the life of Alleghany County Sheriff Edwin Blair Butler, a 51-year-old White male, was tragically cut short in the line of duty. On August 9th, Sheriff Butler, accompanied by two other officers, was in the process of serving a search warrant at a suspected moonshine operation in the vicinity of Covington, Virginia. During the execution of this warrant, a violent confrontation ensued, and Sheriff Butler was shot.
Following the shooting, the wounded sheriff was
quickly transported to the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad Hospital in Clifton Forge for medical attention. Despite the efforts of the medical staff, his injuries proved to be too severe. Three days after being shot, on August 12, 1922, Sheriff Edwin Blair Butler succumbed to his wounds, leaving behind a wife and four children. He had been the elected sheriff since 1919 and was known for his dedication to his community.
The investigation into the murder of Sheriff Butler led to the apprehension of his killer the following month. The individual responsible for the fatal shooting was subsequently brought to trial. The court proceedings concluded with a conviction, and the perpetrator was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of the lawman.
