In the quiet hills of Scott County, Virginia, the life of Deputy Sheriff James W. Morefield, a 45-year-old male, came to a sudden and violent end on the night of Sunday, April 5, 1908. A dedicated public servant, he also held the position of county magistrate in Clinchport. Word had reached him that a man wanted for two murders in West Virginia was hiding out and working at a railroad camp near Speer's Ferry.
Determined to bring the fugitive to justice, Deputy Morefield secured a warrant for his arrest and gathered a small posse of three deputized citizens to assist him in the perilous task that lay ahead.
Under the cloak of midnight, Deputy Morefield and his three men cautiously approached the suspect's rustic shack. As they drew near, they announced their presence and ordered the man to surrender. Instead of compliance, the door of the shack burst open, and three figures emerged, their firearms blazing in the dark. In the ensuing chaos, a single shot struck Deputy Morefield in the chest, and he fell, mortally wounded. The three assailants, their identities yet unknown, vanished into the night, fleeing across the state line into Tennessee.
The escape of the three suspects was short-lived. Law enforcement officials in Tennessee were alerted, and a short time later, the fugitives were apprehended. They were promptly extradited back to Scott County, Virginia, to face the consequences of their actions. The men were charged with the murder of Deputy Sheriff James Morefield. Six months after the fatal shooting, the wheels of justice turned, and two of the suspects were convicted of murder. Both men were sentenced to serve 14 years in prison for their roles in the death of the lawman. Deputy Morefield was survived by his wife.
